Our commitment to the environment and being sustainable is integral to our business philosophy. 

We strive to minimise our environmental footprint through sustainable practices, eco-friendly materials, and continuous innovation. 

Our dedication to environmental stewardship is reflected in our choice of materials, production processes, and product design. Here we share our approach to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

There is a lot of information about recycling and composting paper cups in Australia and sometimes it can be a bit confusing.

We’ve put together the following information to try and make it a little clearer for you.

Sustainable & Renewable Resources

The wood used to make the paper for our paper cups is from sustainable plantation forests, purpose-grown for manufacturing paper products. This means the raw material used to manufacture our paper cups is from a renewable resource, a key point of difference between paper cups and alternatives made from non-renewable materials.

What Are Compostable Paper Cups?

Compostable paper cups are different from ‘standard’ paper cups in that they contain a bioplastic lining within the cup that is made from plants, not oil.

The bioplastic lining allows the compostable cups to breakdown over time and not leave waste.

We are proud to offer 100% compostable cups that are certified commercially compostable to AS4736 in both Australia and New Zealand.

What About The ‘Standard’ Paper Cups?

recycling‘Standard’ (non-compostable) paper cups contain a small oil based lining within the cups (to keep them from leaking) that will not break down over time. These cups and their lids however, can be recycled.

According to research undertaken by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), research shows that takeaway coffee cups can in fact be recycled.

We also can back this up with the fact that any waste paper used in the manufacture of the cups at our factory is picked up by a local recycling centre and recycled.

APCO CEO Trish Hyde said that because the actual cup is made from paperboard with a plastic lining – there have been concerns that this mixed material presents issues for recycling facilities.

“Our APCO organisation members include material recovery and recycling facilities. Through the working group, we resolved that coffee cups can be recycled,” she said.

“Having said that, we also know that there is more work to do to ensure that recyclers receive fair value in recycling this material.”

Are The Cups Always Recycled?

Unfortunately not. There are councils within Australia that do recycle paper cups but not all do. Below you will find a list of those councils that do currently recycle paper cups.

Victoria
City of Ballarat
Cardinia Shire
Greater Bendigo City Council
Nillumbik Shire Council
Warrnambool City Council
Wyndham City Council

Queensland
Brisbane City Council
Lock Valley Regional Council
Scenic Rim Regional Council
Southern Downs Regional Council
Whitsunday Regional Council

South Australia
Adelaide Hills Council
Alexandria Council
Barossa Council
District Council of Cleve
Town of Gawler
Kangaroo Island Council
City of Mount Gambier
City of Onkaparinga
City of Playford
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
City of Salisbury
City of Unley
City of Victor Harbor
City of West Torrens
District Council of Yankalilla
NSW
Armidale Dumareq Council
Byron Shire Council
Gosford City Council
Lismore City Council
Moree Plains Shire Council
Murrumbidgee Shire Council
Port Stephens Council
Shellharbour City Council
Snowy River Shire
Tamworth Regional Council
Tenterfield Shire Council
Tumbarumba Shire
Wyong Shire Council
Western Australia
Cambridge Town
City of Bunbury
City of Busselton
City of Cockburn
Manjimup Shire
Perth City

ACT
All ACT Councils

Are Things Changing With Recycling?

Yes. While slow development within Australia’s recycling facilities previously made it non-profitable to recycle cups, and meant many waste facilities didn’t separate the cups for recycling, recent sustainable innovations have made paper and cardboard recycling more cost-effective.

Through its Simply Cups initiative, environmental solutions company, Closed Loop, is tackling Australia’s overwhelming waste problem by teaming up with 7-Eleven to save coffee cups from landfill.

7-Eleven are installing dedicated coffee cup recycling bins in over 200 of their stores nationally, as well as funding 50 other large-scale locations including offices, universities and construction sites as part of the initiative. All of these cups are collected and sent off to processing plants that are designed specifically to process the recycling of paper cups.

To learn more about how the 7-Eleven initiative might benefit you – check out their website.

Materials & Sustainability

Eco-Friendly Options:

  • Compostable Materials: We offer sustainable cups made from compostable materials that meet Australian Standard AS 4736, which ensures they can break down in industrial composting facilities, turning into soil within a matter of weeks.
  • Renewable Resources: Our paper cups are sourced from sustainable managed forests, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), promoting the responsible management of the world’s forests.
  • Plant-Based Inks: We use inks derived from plant-based materials, reducing the use of petroleum-based products and enhancing the compostability of our cups.

Material Types:

  • Paper Grades: We use a variety of paper grades tailored to the specific needs of our customers, ensuring optimal performance while maintaining sustainable environmental integrity. Our papers are chosen for their strength, insulation properties, and ability to be recycled.
  • Food Grade Coatings: Our custom coffee cups are lined with food-grade coatings that are safe for consumers and the environment. We are exploring innovative coatings made from bioplastics that offer the same level of quality and safety as traditional materials but are fully compostable.
  • Insulation Properties: For our double-walled cups, we ensure that the materials used provide excellent insulation while being sustainable and environmentally friendly, keeping beverages hot and hands cool without the need for an additional sleeve.
  • Recyclable and Compostable Bioplastics: We are at the forefront of using recyclable and compostable bioplastics in our products, which offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and enhancing the end-of-life options for our products.

Environmental Impact

Biodegradability:

  • Composting Standards: Our compostable products comply with stringent composting standards, such as AS 4736 in Australia, ensuring they can be processed in industrial composting facilities to break down into nutrient-rich compost.
  • Material Breakdown: We are committed to using sustainable materials that not only serve their purpose during use but also contribute positively to the environment after disposal. Our compostable cups, for example, are designed to break down in a composting environment, turning into compost that can nourish the earth.

Through careful selection of materials, adherence to sustainability standards, and a commitment to reducing environmental impact, MyPaperCups is dedicated to contributing positively to the planet. 

We continuously explore and invest in innovative solutions to enhance the sustainability of our products and processes. 

For more information about our sustainable environmental initiatives and how we’re making a difference, please contact us.