According to the Marine Conservation Society, coffee cups and their plastic lids are among the most littered items in Australia with over 1.8 billion single-use cups discarded across Australia every year. While in New Zealand, The Packaging Forum estimates that 295 million beverage cups are used yearly.

With the market increasingly inclined towards sustainability, patrons now expect alternative offerings when slurping a cold one – especially with mega events like the Australian Open and the sold-out New Zealand One Love Festival dominating summer activities. While traditional cold cups are either entirely made with plastic or from paper with a plastic lining, there’s been a recent rise in cold cups utilising Water-Based Barrier Coating (WBBC) technology which can lead to an increase in the recyclability and repulpability potential of the material.

An example of this is Sustain’s new Cold Cups, which are made from Forest-Stewardship Council® Mix Certified paper and are fully industrially compostable, breaking down into nutrient-rich organic plant fertiliser when processed properly.

In a world of plastic, this is a refreshing solution offering a modern alternative that’s as functional as it is stylish – that meets consumer demands.