EarthCoating® comes up aces, as recyclable paper cup awarded with highest level, “Triple A” certification for recyclability from The Green Dot

London, England — An unparalled achievement in sustainability has been reached as UK’s reCUP recyclable paper cup with EarthCoating, has been awarded the highest possible, “Category AAA Recyclable” certification per The Green Dot (Der Grune Punkt) recycling standards. In addition, the paper cups are classified for recycling compatibility and collection streams alongside premium uncoated paper grades such as office paper. The Green Dot recognizes standards for recyclability claims in 31 countries including the UK and Ireland. 

Given the UK’s coffee cup recycling debate and interest in reducing plastic content in packaging, it is a remarkable achievement for a paper cup technology to not only achieve the highest rating available for recyclability qualifying for a collection category alongside office paper, but also reducing plastic content in paper cups by 40%. 

The reCUP utilizes EarthCoating, a paperboard packaging coating producing paper cups that look the same and work just as well as any conventional paper cups. The difference is that EarthCoating is designed to be universally compatible with conventional paper cup recycling systems, avoiding the challenges that have been found in recycling of paper cups and other coated foodservice paperboard packaging. 

With less plastic and easier repulping, paper cups with EarthCoating can also improve paper cup processing and efficiency in the UK’s efforts in specialist paper cup recycling schemes of conventional paper cups, currently at a 4% recycling rate. 

The double-wall reCUP receiving certification contains these distinctive highlights: 

* 95% fiber recovery * Highest classification for recyclability alongside premium uncoated paper such as office paper * 40% less plastic content than conventional paper cups 

“EarthCoating continues to enable a new direction in the recycling of paperboard foodservice packaging” says Chris Tilton, Chief Materials Technology Officer at Smart Planet. “Paperboard packaging with EarthCoating is engineered for recycling and valuable to recyclers to collect and recycle, while maintaining the required levels of packaging performance. The certification demonstrates the ability to take immediate steps to solve the problem, using any and all of the UK recycling infrastructure and programs.” 

This certification for paper cups with EarthCoating is compliant with the Packaging Recovery Organization Europe “PRO” program per EU Directive 94/62. 

The Triple-A Green Dot Certificate is available in the EarthCoating Repulping Report at http://www.smartplanettech.com 

Paper cups with EarthCoating are widely available for sale in the UK and Ireland. For a list of manufacturers and distributors of paper cups with EarthCoating, please visit Smart Planet Technologies or reCUP.earth.

Muscle Maker Grill and Pie-Not adopt universally recyclable paperboard foodservice packaging

Newport Beach, CA, November 27, 2018 --As global demand for increased recycling rates and plastic reduction in single use packaging continues to grow, US-based restaurants and coffeehouses are doing their part for the environment by adopting the reCUP® recyclable paper cup and other recyclable paperboard foodservice products, made with EarthCoating® barrier coating. The most recent are Muscle Maker Grill with 40 locations, and Pie-Not with two locations.

Most conventional paperboard-based foodservice packaging such as paper cups and takeout trays are coated with polyethylene plastic, creating a mixed material that is too difficult for paper recyclers to process, thus these materials are diverted to landfill. It is estimated that over 58 billion paper cups are sent to landfills each year in the US. 

Paperboard packaging made with EarthCoating uses 51% less plastic, is engineered to be easily pulped into recycled paper using conventional paper recycling equipment and is certified to be recyclable per industry standards. This allows the recycling industry to increase recovery of valuable materials, and reduce materials sent to landfills.

Muscle Maker Grill, a healthy meal prep and quick service restaurant, announced that they have started using the reCUP® for their cold beverages and hope to have it in all locations very soon in support of their sustainable packaging initiatives. “We’ve started using reCUPs because it’s the right thing to do for the environment,” said MMG brand COO, Kenn Miller.

Pie-Not, an Aussie-Style Bakery restaurant with locations in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach, CA, now uses reCUPs to serve their hot beverages. “Using reCUPs is a simple way of doing our part to reduce plastic and keep paper cups out of our landfills and oceans,” said Pie-Not partner, Ryan Lopicollo. "We've found that our customers are more aware now than ever about plastic, so we are thrilled to partner with Green Cobra Packaging, who offered us reCUPs to serve our customers a sensible solution for their daily coffee," said Matty Heffner, Pie-Not partner.

These US-based reCUP announcements follow several recent international announcements from eco-minded brands switching to packaging with EarthCoating, including Australia-based Hungry Jack’s (Burger King), London-based Canary Wharf (world’s largest office complex), and independent coffeehouse chains around the globe. 

“The first step to getting paper cups recycled is to use a cup that is valuable and easy for recyclers to process through their conventional paper recycling equipment”, said Todd Gasparik, Vice President of Business Development for Smart Planet Technologies, developers of EarthCoating. “EarthCoating is a drop-in replacement for conventional plastic coatings, and you instantly have foodservice packaging that is fully recyclable and with half of the plastic.”

EarthCoating is a highly-mineralized resin alternative to traditional plastic coatings, which may be used to make a variety of paperboard barrier packaging including hot cups, cold cups, food trays, folding cartons, liners, labels, corrugated packaging, and more.

The reCUP and foodservice packaging with EarthCoating are provided to Muscle Maker Grill and Pie-Not through Sysco Foodservice. The closed-loop recycling program for reCUP and other paperboards with EarthCoating is available through Allan Company Recycling and their affiliates.

About Smart Planet Technologies
Smart Planet Technologies is a materials engineering and intellectual property company focused on material advancements for the packaging industry.

 To learn more, visit: www.SmartPlanetTech.com and www.reCUP.earth

About Green Cobra Packaging
Green Cobra Packaging is a North American foodservice packaging supplier and one of Smart Planet Technologies’ preferred vendors of paperboard barrier packaging made with EarthCoating®.

To learn more, visit: www.greencobras.com

'Intention of latte levy lost at government level’

The purpose and intention of the ‘Latte Levy’ has been lost over the past 18 months since the EAC took up the issue, according to Smart Planet Technologies.

Will Lorenzi, president, Smart Planet Technologies, said the latte levy’s intention was to improve recycling of paper cups, not to switch the country to reusable cups, and eliminate use of paper cups.

“The War on Waste was about paper cups not being recycled and winding up in landfill, not to stop using paper cups. Of course the government, or anyone, would come to a conclusion that it’s not a good idea and wouldn’t work to make the country switch to reusable, en masse.  Paper cups are here for the foreseeable future and the goal was always to make them more sustainable, which the government will no longer try to help.”

Smart Planet’s reCUP is made with EarthCoating which contains up to 43% less plastic than traditional paper cups, and the California-based technology firm claims its coffee cup is recyclable using conventional paper recycling equipment.

“No one should have issue with disposable packaging if it’s made from sustainable materials i.e. paper, easily recyclable and profitable to recycle.

“Any government regulation should also incentivise and reward innovation that solves problems and makes improvements.  It’s fine to tax the problem but don’t tax the solution.  With reCUP, we’ve developed a paper cup that has less plastic and is universally recyclable.  Had paper cups been designed in this manner from the beginning, paper cups would have always been recyclable instead of being sorted for the landfill, and we never would have had a controversy over paper coffee cups, and there wouldn’t be a discussion of a latte levy. Retailers and consumers should be incentivised and able to opt out of the latte levy by using a paper cup that is already universally recyclable, rather than paying unnecessarily.”

The reCUP technology has been or is due to be rolled out at Taylor St Barista’s roaster coffee shops, Linstol (a US distributor for the airline cabin industry), Lenzing Papier, and Smart Planet said it was in talks with various brands in the USA.

To protect and serve food | Supplier Analysis – Foodservice

As seen in Packaging News UK Magazine - October 5, 2018 by Jez Abbott.

Brisk business due to the scorching weather and the World Cup bringing out the crowds hasn’t dampened growth in foodservice. This is despite tough high street trade and the debates around packaging waste, reports Jez Abbott.

How has business been for your company in the past year?
Kevin Curran, managing director, Tri-Star Packaging: Brisk. We are 5-6% up on last year in what can only be described as a tough market where standing still is seen by many as pretty good.
Mike Turner, managing director, Graphic Packaging International (GPI) Foodservice Europe: GPI has been performing strongly.
Simon Brears, foodservice sales director, Coveris: Sales have been buoyant. The prolonged spell of hot weather, royal wedding and World Cup have been very beneficial.
Joe Frankel, chief executive, Vegware: We grew by 35% from 2016-17 to 2017-18 and this year is shaping up to be a similar step.
Will Lorenzi, President, Smart Planet Technologies: Sales of reCUP have grown 30% month over month over the course of a year to reach 10 million cups a month.
Neil Goldman, managing director and chief executive, Colpac: Good. We achieved more growth despite ongoing debates on the environment, food waste, needs to reduce plastic and tough high-street trade.
Sally Molyneux, sales director, Klöckner Pentaplast food and consumer products: We are fortunate given today’s focus on plastic packaging – sustainable and recyclable packaging is integral to our portfolio.

What challenges are you facing?
Curran: It’s a perfect storm. Financially strapped food retailers and casual dining operators want reduced costs in a market where raw materials are going up, meanwhile home delivery is growing.
Turner: Our ability to efficiently meet demand as interest in sustainable packaging solutions rises.
Brears: With mounting pressure to use less single-use, but more sustainable packaging, it is imperative for us to progress with the next generation of materials in our formats.
Frankel: We’ve seen a huge surge in demand this year. Many product lines increased 10-fold in as many weeks. We’ve had step changes in categories we weren’t expecting which is a challenge.
Lorenzi: Market understanding of the differences and preferences between recyclable, compostable and biodegradable end-of-life solutions.
Goldman: Brexit and the complexities of the environmental debate around packaging. Both require strong teams to manage the seemingly constant changes.
Molyneux: The focus on closed-loop solutions and moving to a circular economy – we need to be sure we are aligned with this in terms of lightweighting and reducing carbon emissions.

What do you see as the biggest market opportunity for foodservice packaging?
Curran: There are two big opportunities. Street food is still a growing market; and the second is the soaring growth of home-delivered food to suits millennial dining styles.
Turner: Increased interest in sustainable packaging and the variety and quality of sustainable options available.
Brears: Compostable packaging is a small segment of the global packaging industry but we expect its usage to rise. We have re-launched ranges using a plastic-free, compostable film.
Frankel: In the US some operators have switched to reusables in-house though the huge rise in ‘grab and go’ and home delivery means that the overall market opportunity is growing.
Lorenzi: Sustainable packaging options. Products will be successful when they can make improvements on cost, performance and environmental footprint.
Goldman: As an industry we can educate our customers, their consumers and the media on the environmental benefits of packaging. This year we launched products under our compostable and recyclable Zest range.
Molyneux: Food to go, especially hot products with the advent of Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat. Packaging is integral to the in-home dining occasion.

What do you see as the key developments in packaging formats at present?
Curran: Tricky. Everyone wants to reduce packaging, which has led to a growing acknowledgement in the market that rPET is most probably the material of choice for our sector.
Turner: New coatings to enable packaging to be more easily recycled in standard waste streams.
Brears: Our NPD teams are working with customers to enhance food in environmentally responsible formats with an emphasis on different opening features and on shelf appeal.
Frankel: Let’s turn this question round and say where the development needs to be. Much of the industry hasn’t been designing products with recycling or composting in mind – all components of a product should go in the same recycling stream.
Lorenzi: Cost and performance used to be the key pillars of packaging technology, but the third pillar of environmental impact has become just as important – if not more so.
Goldman: Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technologies will play a pivotal role in protecting food responsibly.
Molyneux: Technology to design products that are widely recyclable using optimised amounts of material and keeping products as lightweight and fully functional as possible.

How has your client base changed over the years?
Curran: It’s client attitudes that have changed: they are dramatically more demanding and discerning on products, capabilities and new product development – and the price they expect to pay.
Turner: Our client base is widening in numbers of customers and the types of products we are asked to supply.
Brears: Our client base has been consistent, but we have seen some consolidation in the marketplace.
Frankel: We have gone from being a niche option to now being a key supplier to major players. We now work with big beverage brands.
Lorenzi: Client demand has changed. Now purchasing decisions are being driven by the need to make packaging more sustainable.
Goldman: As boundaries between retail and food service continue to blur more opportunities have presented themselves.
Molyneux: Clear differentiation of substrate versus market. Councils, retailers and the NHS prefer recycled PET. Traditional takeaways want EPS. We must honour the past but innovate for the future.

How do you feel media scrutiny on plastic packaging and utensils has affected the foodservice industry?
Curran: I’m seriously fed up with the political and media focus on plastic as a problem. It is not the problem; it’s how plastic is used, handled and disposed of, and sadly there’s lack of understanding.
Turner: Scrutiny benefits paperboard packaging as we can demonstrate work being done to improve recycling rates. There continues to be confusion on compostable foodservice packaging.
Brears: The media negativity ignores the role packaging plays in protecting food, keeping it fresh, communicating product information and supporting point of sale decisions.
Frankel: It’s been a much-needed wake-up call. At last people are starting to understand that real recycling doesn’t happen by chance.
Lorenzi: Media scrutiny is driving a need for alternative materials, so fibre-based packaging and other renewable materials will see a growth in demand.
Goldman: The media heightens awareness of the issues but it hasn’t the complexity of the solutions. The subtleties to recycling make it hard for the media to convey the scope of the situation.
Molyneux: A certain amount of scrutiny is healthy – based on fact rather than perception. The current narrative does not truly reflect the reality. But it is an opportunity to define long-term aspirations, such as our Positive Plastics Pledge to recycle plastic waste.

Has the media scrutiny on litter and coffee cups posed dilemmas for you?
Curran: Not really. Everybody uses different materials and works to a different premise, be it recyclability, compostability or whatever. If we all agreed on one material, it would ease collection and recycling.
Turner: We are trying to demonstrate to legislators that taxation will not result in increased recycling rates but will hit the high street and the value our manufacturing sector brings to UK Plc.
Brears: We expect the demand for more sustainable packaging to continue to rise and the use of more recyclable materials and those from renewable sources.
Frankel: Compostable packaging isn’t the solution to litter, either on land or at sea – the cup has been the poster boy for a wider issue. We welcome the debate but need a solution for the whole category, not just the cup. The only downside to the media focus has been some misinformation.
Lorenzi: To the contrary. Media scrutiny has helped our business, as we provide a coffee cup with less plastic and easier to recycle.
Goldman: It has helped drive consumer awareness of the environment and recycling which can hopefully provide a base for increased consumer engagement.
Molyneux: Littering is a major social and environmental problem but it’s not the same as plastic waste which is valuable and easily recycled. Products do not litter themselves – people litter.

Has all the uncertainty around Brexit had an impact on your business?
Curran: The uncertainty is worse than Brexit itself. Lack of decisiveness is causing problems. A ‘no deal’ could see us buying more from the Far East pushing up food miles and carbon footprints.
Turner: We are hopeful a deal on Brexit will be agreed and that this will help to clear up much of the uncertainty.
Brears: We have a lot of enquiries from the EU and since Brexit was announced, our exports to the EU have grown 9% year-on-year.
Frankel: Not as yet, but March is just around the corner. WTO rules would add a 9% tariff for many types of disposables. Any logistical or financial barrier between us and our European clients will be a major challenge. Within the EU, we can export with no fees or red tape. Add in currency fluctuations, and Brexit is the biggest business risk we are facing.
Goldman: The country has voted and we need to make a success of it. We need the right attitude to identify the challenges and opportunities.
Molyneux: We welcome this opportunity; as a global player with expertise in dealing with various trading frameworks we have the experience and global structure to cope with any challenges.

What is the most unusual project you’ve worked on?
Curran: The reusable Pokito hot-drinks cup: it is neither disposable nor sold to food processors looking to produce millions of packs, but to environmentally aware consumers.
Turner: I was asked if GPI could develop a paper cup that the consumer could eat once the beverage had been consumed – who knows where the future will take us.
Brears: To construct a transformer pack format suitable for food and that turned into children’s.
Frankel: A longstanding client, the Cambridge Gecko, uses our round deli containers to hatch gecko eggs.
Goldman: The challenge to take out plastic from fresh produce packaging has raised some ingenious options to deal with regular and irregular shapes of fruits and vegetables.

If I could change one thing about the industry it would be…
Curran: The constant desire by manufacturers and suppliers to pacify and satisfy every client and market leads to smaller volumes, lots of products and poor economies of scale. So I’d like a bit more product uniformity.
Turner: To ensure the entire market understands a product made from certified sustainable raw materials.
Brears: To see a more consistent, collaborative approach to developing environmentally responsible packaging.
Frankel: That every product was designed from the ground up to be compostable or recyclable once used.
Lorenzi: To recognise the challenges to provide more sustainable solutions are an opportunity and not a threat to a business.
Goldman: I wish consumers and brands were more aware of the need to support UK talent to create world class products and services.
Molyneux: To make public perception match reality. Plastics are unique and provide social and environmental solutions to society.

Canary Wharf Group aims sights on recyclable paper cups made with EarthCoating® in support of plastic reduction and increased recycling rates

Canary Wharf Group commits to exploring the use of recyclable paper cups made with EarthCoating® at One Canada Square

Canary Wharf, London, September 25, 2018 – As global demand for a sustainable solution in paper cup waste continues to rise, Canary Wharf Group in London, England has decided to conduct trials for a paper cup made with EarthCoating® which is said to use 43% less plastic than traditional paper cups and be easily pulped into recycled paper using conventional paper recycling equipment.

“As a responsible landlord, we want to raise awareness of alternative technologies that could provide further value to our Estate community.  A solution like Earth Coating® has potential to demonstrate a closed-loop system where used paper cups could be reprocessed into goods like printing paper, which could then be brought back into our offices” said Lugano Kapembwa, Sustainability Manager for Canary Wharf Group. 

The end of life hierarchy for disposable paper packaging has been clearly identified as Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and so any opportunity to recapture virgin fibers from paper cups for recycling clearly supports the circular economy which is of grave importance.

“The first step to getting paper cups recycled is to make paper cups that are easy to process through existing paper recycling equipment” said Todd Gasparik, VP of Business Development for Smart Planet Technologies, developers of EarthCoating®. “Now that we’ve done this, the recycling experts can extract the value and divert a tremendous amount of waste from the landfill.

EarthCoating® can be used as a sustainable coating alternative for all types of packaging applications including paper hot/cold cups, food trays, takeaway boxes, food wraps, liners, labels and more. EarthCoating® may be run on existing equipment at commercial line speeds and paper packaging produced with it require no additional infrastructure in order to be easily pulped back into office paper.

Canary Wharf Group plans to announce further details of its trial in the near future and is working to ensure the existing infrastructure is ready and able to accommodate this exciting program. 

About Canary Wharf Group 
Canary Wharf Group plc has overseen the largest urban regeneration project ever undertaken in Europe, designing and building more than 16.5m sq ft of London real estate, which now houses local and international companies and renowned retailers. 

The Canary Wharf estate is a major retail destination comprising around 1m sq ft across five shopping malls, including the award-winning leisure development, Crossrail Place, housing one of London’s most stunning roof gardens.  It also has world-class, year-round arts and events programme offering over 200 diverse and culturally inspiring events performed throughout the Estate.

Canary Wharf’s new district, Wood Wharf, will provide up to 3,600 new homes, 2.8m sq ft of office space, 380,000 sq ft of retail space and over eight acres of public spaces, squares and parks. There will also be a GP surgery and a two-form primary school for 420 children.

Canary Wharf Group is a wholly owned joint venture between Brookfield Property Partners and the Qatar Investment Authority. 

Website: www.canarywharf.com
Instagram: @canarywharflondon
Twitter @CanaryWharfGrp; @YourCanaryWharf;@Level39CW

 About Smart Planet Technologies
Smart Planet Technologies is a materials engineering and intellectual property company focused on sustainable material advancements for the paper-based packaging industry. Our highly-mineralized resin technology (EarthCoating®) uses 43-51% less plastic than Polyethylene and may be used to produce paper-based packaging applications that can be easily pulped into recycled paper using conventional paper recycling equipment. 

EarthCoating® is ideal for hot/cold cups, tubs, folding cartons, food trays, liners, labels, takeaway boxes, corrugated boxboards and point-of-purchase displays. EarthCoating® may be run at high commercial line speeds on existing converting equipment and offers significant performance, economic and environmental benefits compared to plastic coatings.