Words by Smiley Team
In good news for the planet, Costa Coffee has launched a trial of 100% fibre lids. Made from renewable plant-based material, the lids are 100% recyclable and will be available at 150 Costa Coffee stores across the UK.
The trial goes live just a month after the coffee shop chain committed to halving carbon emissions per coffee serving by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2040.
The trial will gather consumer and store team member feedback of the new lids, following significant testing and development in controlled environments. The lids will also be trialled in select Costa Express machines this summer.
The lids have up to 50% lower carbon footprint than the current polystyrene plastic version. As part of an ongoing effort to reduce its environmental impact, last year, Costa Coffee changed the lining of the inside of its hot takeaway cups to be made from plant-based plastic, rather than oil-based material.
Commenting on the announcement Costa Coffee’s Global Brand & Sustainability Director, Deb Caldow, said: "We are working simultaneously on three key areas within our packaging – Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. Our aim is to encourage consumers to adopt reuse regularly, through offering reusable ‘rent a cup’ schemes and by rewarding consumers through our enhanced loyalty scheme, which further incentivises those opting to reuse.
"However, we know we need to come at this from all angles. Last year, we launched takeaway cups made from 100% plant-based materials in major markets around the world and have ongoing plans to continue to improve the iconic Costa Coffee cup.
"We are now focusing on single-use lids, trialling a move from polystyrene plastic to a new fibre solution that is sustainably sourced, made from renewable material and fully recyclable.”
Costa Coffee’s 2030 target to halve emissions per serving of coffee have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) – the internationally-recognised partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
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