In an article published on August 4, 2016, the UK trade magazine Plastics & Rubber Weekly (PRW) reports on the “Paper Cup Manifesto” which is an industry-wide initiative with the aim of “significantly increasing paper cup recovery and recycling rates by 2020.” The initiative was launched by the Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA) and the Paper Cup Recovery and Recycling Group (PCRRG) on June 27, 2016 and is backed by over 30 signatories “representing each stage of the paper cup supply chain from raw material suppliers, cup manufacturers and retail high street brands to waste and recovery operators and paper reprocessors.” The manifesto pledges: “The paper cup supply chain agrees to work together to ensure paper cups are designed, used, disposed of and collected to maximize the opportunities for recycling by further investment and funding of recycling, disposal and collection projects.”
The article further explains that “paper cups have a polyethylene plastic (PE) coating” and “in order for them to be recycled, the PE coating must be separated from the paper fibre.”
Read more
PRW (August 4, 2016). “BPF backs Paper Cup Manifesto.”
Reference
FPA & PCRRG (June 27, 2016). “Partnership of businesses, retailers & suppliers announce manifesto to increase the recovery and recycling of paper cups.” (pdf)
