In the United Kingdom, Biome Bioplastics developed a plant-based disposable coffee cup and lid that is compostable and recyclable, but that can still handle the heat of hot coffee like similar fossil-based plastic cups. The Biome cups and lids can be thrown into either paper recycling bins or food waste bins. If disposed of for composting purposes, the cups and lids will disappear within three months.
CEO Paul Mines told PlastEurope, “the takeaway cup produced in the UK belongs to a range of biopolymers for coffee cups, lids and coffee pods based on natural and renewable resources including plant starches and tree by-products such as cellulose. These enable retailers and packaging manufacturers to offer consumers a more sustainable option.”