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Simply Cups, the UK’s only active cup recycling scheme, has launched a number of exciting new initiatives at its third annual meeting that includes an extended collection service, a host of new members and, most importantly, a range of functional products created from the post-consumer materials that the scheme is collecting.
Key to the development of Simply Cups’ range of new promotional, office and point of sale products is the creation of a new durable polymer that has been produced using both the paper and plastic content of paper cups. Trials have shown that the composite is much stronger than conventional plastics and can be readily moulded into products at high speeds.
Speaking at the event, Simply Cups director, Peter Goodwin, explained: “Since launching the scheme we have continually sought new applications for used cups and our partnership with Nextek and AShortWalk enables us to produce functional Simply Cups branded products from the materials we collect.”
“Furthermore, this will enhance the credibility and value of the scheme to our Members who will now see a tangible return from their assistance in placing their used cups in the appropriate cup recycling bin. Most importantly, however, we aim to capitalise on the demand for locally manufactured products using locally, derived post-consumer material.”
According to Dan Dicker, MD of AShortWalk who specialise in the design and manufacture of products made from recycled materials: “It’s easy to forget that nothing is truly recycled until it’s been physically reused. A solution like this that opens up wider product possibilities will create a far bigger demand for the recycled cups and close an economic as well as a recycling loop.”
The event, held at the Museum of London, was attended by over one hundred representatives from the UK’s leading hospitality and food service companies, including manufacturers, suppliers and well-known brands.
Simply Cups has also announced a new, extended cup recycling service which means that, along with paper cups, the scheme will now be collecting and recycling Polypropylene (PP), High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) and PET Cups. To reflect this change, a number of new cup manufacturers have now also joined the scheme and include Coveris, Nupik Flo and RPC Tedeco-Gizeh.
