The demand for CBD-based products has been growing in recent years as a result of a change in consumer perception (cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound found in the flower of the cannabis plant). This compound has now become associated with numerous health benefits including treating medical aliments, such as Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, pain, stress and anxiety. This shift in consumer perception of CBD-based products is due, at least in part, to the increasing amounts of medical research on the effects of CBD and the rising publicity of the health benefits associated with the compound. That being said, Air New Zealand sells over 8 million cups of coffee per year, which is an awful lot of landfill waste, and so it’s unsurprising they’re looking to reduce their portion.

Given the amount of disposable coffee cups used each year and the length of time each cup requires to decompose – for example coffee cups containing polyethylene can take around 30 years to fully decompose – a solution to this problem is urgently needed if we are to continue to enjoy our morning beverage (and for some of us, continue to function like a normal human being!). We anticipate developments in the structure and manufacturing of coffee cups, as well as their recycling, in 2022 as the problem only becomes more pressing. Biodegradable plastics The result is a biodegradable wafer cup free from artificial colorants, sweeteners and preservatives. The start-up describes the ‘edible cookie cup’ as a ‘tasty, crunchy, and fully organic alternative to all disposable cups’.For those of you who are a little mathematically challenged, that means 99.75% of all coffee cups in the UK end up in landfills.

Nearly all disposable coffee cups are made with an inner lining that mixes paper and plastic – the very thing that makes them both leak and heatproof. And we’re sorry to disappoint you, but if you’re excited about the prospect of enjoying a cup-shaped biccy anytime soon – don’t get your hopes up. In 2015, UK branches of the fast-food chain KFC ran a promotion stunt to celebrate their collaboration with coffee company, Seattle’s Best. The promotion featured edible wafer and white chocolate coffee cups enveloped in sugar paper sleeves branded with the Colonel’s logo.The most common contributors to plastic waste in the coffee industry are single-use takeaway cups. Half a trillion disposable cups are manufactured annually: the equivalent of 70 cups for every person on the planet.

Currently only available at some London offices and University campuses, CupClub, allows coffee consumers to buy their hot drinks in a reusable mug, and then drop it off at a collection point later. In the UK, it is estimated that around 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown away each year and that only 0.25% of them are recycled. Behind the stunt was Etihad Airways, which aims to reduce its own single-use plastic items by 80% in 2022. The cup can last for up to 8 hours. They won’t break down easily or leak, even with the hot liquid. They are designed to hold their form.

This makes disposal the most complex issue of the single-use coffee cup life cycle. According to researchers at the University of British Columbia, Canada, the most energy-intensive process of the single-use coffee cup life cycle is raw materials processing and manufacturing. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and spending increased time at home, many of us have taken a greater interest in what we eat, which has continued even beyond the banana bread craze of 2020. Consumers have become ever more scrupulous when considering what benefits and harms the food we eat can have, not only to ourselves, but also our planet. It is therefore unsurprising that the biggest food trends we see emerging in 2022 are focused around health benefits and reducing damage to our environment. Reinventing the coffee cup Once you take them from the container, keep them in a cool and dry place. Place them inside an airtight container to maintain the crispiness and maximise their shelf life. Why Choose Edible Cups?