Throw on organic cotton jeans, grab the Prius keys and enjoy a cup of Joe in an environmentally friendly container. Portland Roasting Coffee Company debuted its new “ecotainer” to-go cup at May’s Specialty Coffee Association of America show.
PORTLAND — Throw on organic cotton jeans, grab the Prius keys and enjoy a cup of Joe in an environmentally friendly container. Portland Roasting Coffee Company debuted its new “ecotainer” to-go cup at May’s Specialty Coffee Association of America show.
The paper cup has a corn-based plastic liner that can biodegrade in a 170-degree compost pile.
According to International Paper, Americans discarded 14.4 billion disposable paper cups in 2005. But a simple solution isn’t in the can.
Lee Barrett from Metro Recycling says a major problem with bio-plastics is their aesthetic similarity to conventional containers. Without clear labeling people don’t know which container to toss and which to compost. Cross-contamination, where a compostable plastic ends up with recyclable plastics destined for new life as outdoor decking, is also a concern.
On second thought: Just bring your own mug to the coffee house.
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