Select Burger King outlets in Finland are testing a new eco-friendly alternative to single-use cups that could significantly reduce waste, CO2 emissions, and avoid harmful microplastic pollution.
Reusable Sulapac Cups
The reusable “eco cups” being tested in two Burger King outlets in Finland, which are operated by the Finnish restaurant and catering company Restel, are developed by the award-winning material innovation company Sulapac.
“By collaborating with Sulapac we can mitigate the negative climate and environmental impacts related to single-use and oil-based plastic while advancing the circular bioeconomy,” said Anna Koskinen, Sustainability and Communications Manager at Restel, in a statement.
The reusable cups are made with Sulapac Solid material that is 100% biobased and doesn’t require any hazardous chemicals to produce.
”Our Solid material can be efficiently recycled, while it’s also suitable for industrial composting,” explained Heidi Peltola, Head of Product at Sulapac. “The compostability certificate is a way to validate the environmental friendliness of the material, as it includes tests for potential ecotoxic effects and heavy metals, for example.”
Also, the Sulapac Solid material used to manufacture the cups doesn’t leave any permanent microplastic, which poses severe risks to ecosystems and human health.
“All our materials can be digested by naturally occurring microbes. Hence, Sulapac materials do not accumulate in the food chain, unlike conventional plastic,” Peltola pointed out.
Test Run
In addition to the abovementioned Burger King outlets, the reusable Sulapac cups are also being tested in select Rax restaurants operated by Restel. At these locations, the customer receives the eco cup from the cashier and returns it after use to the appointed collection tray. The cup can be washed around 200 times, and when it reaches the end of its lifespan, it will be sent back to Sulapac where it will be recycled.
The chemical recycling of Sulapac and other biobased biodegradable materials is highly efficient, both in terms of energy consumption and yield. Another notable benefit of the process is that the food contact quality is maintained.
“In other words, we turn Restel’s discarded cups into new drinking cups, following the principles of the circular economy,” Peltola summarized.
The trial will run for two months and will hopefully arrive larger markets, like the United States.
How dangerous are microplastics
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, less than 5 millimeters in size, that have become a global environmental contaminant. In the oceans, microplastics can accumulate in the bodies of marine animals and can potentially enter the human body through the consumption of seafood.
In fact, a study published in the Toxicological Sciences journal found microplastics in all 23 human testicles and 47 dog testicles the scientists examined. The news outlet Guardian, who summarized the study, pointed out that the researchers predicted this could be linked to declining sperm counts.
Furthermore, a separate study in the New England Journal of Medicine found microplastics in samples of artery plaque. Publisher The Conversation noted that the presence of this material in the human bloodstream could increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death.
Therefore, anything that can reduce the use of plastic in our daily lives, including the introduction of reusable Sulapac cups, is important for human health.