It is estimated that over 500 billion paper cups wind up in landfills each year globally.

Why?

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Here's the problem: 

Paper cups need a polymer coating to hold the liquid contents and to seal the cup at its seams. Paper cups are often coated with 100% polyethylene, which creates a mixed material of paper and plastic, which can be repulped but causes problems in the subsequent screening process. The plastic clogs the screening process, and interferes with recovering the fibers and making new paper, so paper recyclers typically sort and remove paper cups from the recovered paper stream — and the cups often wind up at the landfill.

 
 

We have a smart solution.

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A reCUP® is made the way a paper cup should have been made from the start — with recycling in mind.

The reCUP® uses EarthCoating®, an innovative barrier coating that replaces up to 51% of the plastic with minerals.

This mineralized resin blend is engineered to be fully compatible with conventional paper recycling systems. The coating provides all the performance for a paper cup, while its mineral content qualifies the coating along with clay coating for the purposes of recycling. So, the cups are as recyclable as ordinary paper.

A simple change to the coating provides the recycling industry with paper cups that are easily recyclable today in conventional paper recycling systems.

The reCUP® has successfully obtained numerous industry standard recycling certifications. Please see our Repulping Report for more information.

reCUPs look and function like conventional paper cups and are made the same way... except for one MAJOR difference — reCUPs are engineered to be universally recyclable in conventional paper recycling systems.

Brands using reCUP and EarthCoating in paper cups:

reCUP and EarthCoating technology are used by partners of Smart Planet under various brand names:

  • Detpak: RecycleMe

  • CupPrint: reCUP in Ireland, reUUSI in UK and Europe

  • Linstol: Super Cup (coffee cups) and Super Cool Cup (cold drinks, wines and spirits)

  • PureCo: PureCup

Certifications

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AAA Rating

Paper cups made with EarthCoating® qualify for a AAA rating for recyclability from Der Grune Punkt (Green Dot).

Cyclos HTP results

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Paper cups with EarthCoating are classified for Path 13 for collection, which is the premium uncoated paper grade for recycling. In comparison, paper cups with polyethylene are classified for Path 11, in the problematic category for composite materials that are difficult to recycle.

EarthCoating

Unlike polyethylene, EarthCoating is classified as an inert coating material in recycling, along with clay coating, having “no or neglible impact on the recyclate properties”.

 

Video

Takeaway cup recycling solved in Australia

(2:32) Detpak’s RecycleMe program recovers RecycleMe cups from Quick Service Restaurant locations, to produce recycled paper for Hallmark Gift Wrap and Australian Paper copy paper. These types of high quality recycling outcomes for paper cups are only possible with paper cups with EarthCoating

Mineralized EarthCoating® Revolutionizes Paper Cup Recycling

This short explainer video shows paper cups made with EarthCoating® being pulped back into recycled paper using conventional paper recycling equipment.

A Day In The Life of a RecycleMe™ Cup

RecycleMe™ cups are made with EarthCoating® are being closed-loop collected and processed back into copy paper throughout Australia.

Learn more at RecycleMe.

 

Recycling paper cups made with EarthCoating® in the UK

Paper cups made with EarthCoating® (reCUPs) are being collected from curbside recycling bins for repulping.

Recycling RecycleMe™ cups made with EarthCoating® in Australia

Detpak launches RecycleMe™ closed-loop collection program in Australia with Shred-X

RecycleMe™ is a private label brand of paper reCUPs made with EarthCoating®.

Planet Ark Endorses RecycleMe™

RecycleMe™, a private label brand of paper cups made with EarthCoating® has been endorsed by Planet Ark in Australia.

Detpak Launches RecycleMe™ closed-loop collection program in UK with Shredall.

RecycleMe™ is a private label brand of paper cups made with EarthCoating®.

Awards

Smart Planet Technologies received the
2017 Green Arrow Award for
System Design and Innovation for reCUP.

 
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Instagram

Calling all #coffeehouses in the #sanfrancisco area! You’re invited to join our #closed-loop recycling program for paper cups made with #earthcoating. Learn more at www.recyclecups.org
Coffeebar raises the #recycling bar by adopting reCUP - learn more at reCUP.earth
Congratulations to #unitedairlines on your “Flight for the Planet”. Between the biofuel, beeswax wraps and #recyclable paper cups made with #earthcoating, you’ve really set a great example for others to follow. #sustainablepackaging
Spent today in #Sacramento attending the SB 1335 Workshop and meeting with various members of the CA Assembly and Senate about how #earthcoating can be used in support of plastic reduction, landfill diversion and increased #recycling rates.
@sustainsurf is hosting the demo and using paper #reCUPs made with #earthcoating to serve #locallyroasted coffee from @Mesteeso, small batch #kombucha from @HealthAde, breakfast pastries and a suite of boards from #Ecoboard project partners and more.
Congrats to @detpak for your RecycleMe System being endorsed by @planetark . It’s great to see used paper cups made with #EarthCoating being recycled into copy paper!
Oh Sun, you’ve been missed 🌞 #reCUP
The #reCUP uses #EarthCoating, an innovative barrier coating that replaces up to 51% of the plastic with minerals. This mineralized blend is engineered to be fully compatible with conventional paper recycling systems. ♻️☕️🌎 . . #recyclablepapercup #