Are Irish coffee cups really biodegradable?

Are Irish coffee cups really biodegradable?

What makes coffee cups biodegradable? Can they be composted are they biodegradable or both?

Compostable

Products certified to be industrially compostable according to the European standards EN 13432. These products start to become biodegrade in a composting process typically within twelve weeks.

Never place compostable plastic into the recycling with other plastics; as it is designed to break down it cannot be recycled and contaminates recyclable plastics.

Products that tend to carry this European standard can be recycled with your garden and food waste through your local authority or in composting bins.

Biodegradable

Biodegradable Is the disintegration of materials by bacteria, fungi, or other biological means. It is commonly associated with environmentally-friendly products, capable of decomposing back into natural elements. There really is no pre-defined time limits for the term “biodegradable” as a huge number of factors determine the rate at which this degradation occurs. Factors include light, water, oxygen and temperature.

Mobius Loop (Recycle)

This indicates that an object is more than capable of being recycled, not that the object has been recycled or will be accepted in all recycling collection systems. You would need to check your local jurisdiction as some sip thru lids may not be acceptable for example. Sometimes this symbol is used with a percentage figure in the middle to explain that the packaging contains x% of recycled material.

Greenspirit biodegradable packaging at a Glance

We are passionate about packaging and providing you with the best products available. As a leading supplier to the Foodservices sector, sustainability and the environment plays an important role when choosing what products to supply.

We are focused on doing our part to protect the environment, and with that in mind, have created the Greenspirit Range. This range consists of catering disposable packaging made from a natural, sustainable and renewable resources such as Ingeo PLA and Sugar Cane Fiber. We endeavor to provide you with the most environmentally-friendly solutions available and to present you with upcoming advancements in this area. Our range of products covers categories from Cups & Accessories, Glasses and Takeaway Containers to Cutlery and Paper Straws.

The future is bright with the Greenspirit range of Paper packaging, Straws, plates, take away boxes, coffee cups, coffee cup lids and many more.