CoffeeCup Paper – Make More of Your Coffee Cup
This year, for the first time, we are using CoffeeCup Paper to print our catalog. What is it, what do disposable cups have to do with it, and how can you become a sustainability pioneer with coffee cups? Find out here.
What is CoffeeCup Paper?
CoffeeCup Paper is high-quality graphic paper made from recycled disposable paper cups with a plastic coating. According to the German Federal Environment Agency, approximately 1.7 billion of these disposable cups end up in the trash each year in Germany alone. Until now, there has been no economical way to recycle them. The process of separating the paper and coating from the cups was too complex and costly. However, without separation, the paper fibers cannot be reintegrated into the recycling loop.
To combat the growing waste problem, coffee cups have mostly been incinerated. This process not only releases a significant amount of CO₂ but also results in the loss of valuable resources.
Koehler Greiz GmbH, part of the Koehler Paper Group, in collaboration with IGEPA Großhandel GmbH and creart Neidhardt Werbe GmbH, has developed a specialized recycling process. This process efficiently and sustainably separates the paper fibers of disposable cups from their coating and transforms them into new paper – the so-called CoffeeCup Paper.
How Does the Recycling Process Work?
Most disposable paper cups consist of paper fibers coated with a thin plastic layer. This coating is necessary to prevent liquids from soaking through and to ensure a convenient coffee-drinking experience. To reintegrate the paper fibers into the raw material cycle after use, they must be completely separated from the coating.
Using an innovative recycling process, the Koehler Greiz GmbH paper mills efficiently and sustainably separate the paper fibers from the disposable cups' coating. To make this possible, cups are collected from partner restaurants and other food service establishments. Waste management companies pick them up and temporarily store them before IGEPA Großhandel GmbH transports them to the paper mills. After separation, the recovered fibers are mixed with recycled paper from other sources to produce new graphic paper.
The result is a sustainable recycled paper consisting of 25% disposable paper cups and 75% recycled paper. Once produced and integrated into the paper and cardboard cycle, CoffeeCup Paper can be recycled at least six more times. A long life for a single-use coffee cup – don't you think?
What Are the Benefits of CoffeeCup Paper?
The production effort for CoffeeCup Paper is comparable to that of other recycled papers. However, it offers a significant added value: it enables the reuse of paper fibers that were previously lost to incineration. With 1.7 billion coated paper cups consumed and discarded every year, we are talking about substantial amounts of waste and raw materials that can be reduced and saved thanks to CoffeeCup Paper.
Recycled paper made from these cups is highly versatile and can be used for far more than just catalogs like ours. From packaging bands to menus, customer magazines, and annual planners – almost anything is possible. CoffeeCup Paper is flexible and an ideal starting material for sustainable communication.
Become a Sustainability Pioneer
We should all strive to reduce waste. But we don’t always want to, or cannot, completely avoid disposable cups, printed menus, promotional flyers, catalogs, and similar materials. The key is to pay attention to the source and recyclability of the materials used. With versatile CoffeeCup Paper, eco-conscious paper usage and truly sustainable communication become effortless.
For the CoffeeCup Paper project to grow and continue extracting valuable raw materials from waste, more collected cups are needed. Because one thing is clear: no disposable cups, no CoffeeCup Paper.
You can help keep the recycling cycle going! The CoffeeCup Paper project is looking for additional businesses willing to participate in the collection of disposable paper cups. Encourage your customers and employees to return their cups, become part of an innovative project, and benefit from genuine sustainability while reducing disposal costs. Find out more here.
Sign up for our Green Box newsletter for more information, helpful tips or exciting product news. Get an additional €5 discount¹ on your next order.
¹Redeemable from a purchase value of €50 and only once as a newsletter subscriber:in. All data will be treated confidentially. Unsubscription is possible at any time
- ✔ Exclusive offers for subscribers
- ✔ Exciting news
- ✔ Helpful tips
- ✔ New products
