Starbucks has launched a new, more sustainable version of its takeaway cup in Europe, which has replaced the cup’s plastic lining with a mineral-based coating and now comes with fibre-alternative lid.
The newly developed hot cup is certified home compostable and widely recyclable. It is created using traceable wood fibre from northern European forests together with a mineral-based coating.
The patented, silica-based Qwarzo coating is waterproof and highly resistant to heat, and it is found on the inside of the hot cup and the outer layer of the lid.
Silica has been approved by various regulatory authorities as food safe since the 1960s and is commonly found as an anti-caking agent in kitchen staples including flour, protein powder, and spice mixes.
The mineral-based coating was developed in Brescia, Italy. The cup was designed and constructed at Transcend’s factory in Ystrad Mynach, Wales.
The cup has also been endorsed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in order to tackle key environmental challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution.
Lead of Strategy & Thought Leadership for the Plastics Initiative, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Sander Dreyfut, praised Starbucks’ initiative for progressing the removal of hard-to-recycle cups from its stores.
“In addition to promoting and incentivising the use of reusable cups, it’s great to see Starbucks investing in innovation for its paper takeaway cups and lids. Companies like Starbucks are demonstrating how industry can drive market change by incentivising reuse and designing widely recyclable and compostable packaging,” Dreyfut says.
“It is important for the sector to start transitioning in this way as this would enable better collection, reduce consumer confusion, and boost actual reuse, recycling and composting rates.”
The new hot cup and lid solution will be rolled out in a phased approach across select Starbucks European markets.
It will commence in 10 initial countries including Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Switzerland, and Austria during May 2025, before heading to the United Kingdom and Ireland later this year.
President of Starbucks EMEA Duncan Moir says the business remains focused on improving its sustainable worldwide practices.
“Our hot cup solution is the first introduction of this emerging technology applied to a coffee cup at scale. Starbucks’ new hot cup in Europe provides a widely recyclable and home compostable alternative for when customers don’t have a reusable cup,” Moir says.
“I am really proud of the team that has worked to develop this innovative solution, and I am so excited to see it in the hands of our customers in Europe as they enjoy their coffee.
“We are keen to learn more from this rollout and remain focused on introducing more sustainable innovations to meet the shifting requirements of markets worldwide.”
