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Finnish restaurant and catering company Restel recently kicked off a pilot with reusable \u2018eco cups\u2019 in selected Burger King and Rax restaurants, which the company operates in Finland. The pilot takes place in collaboration with the award-winning material innovation company Sulapac. Through the adoption of reusable Sulapac cups, restaurants can decrease waste and CO2 emissions and avoid harmful microplastic pollution.<\/p>\n
As was the case with Restel, many fast-food and event industry operators are pleasantly surprised to learn that reuse doesn\u2019t need to translate into using oil-based plastic. The Sulapac Solid material developed for reusable tableware specifically is 100% biobased and its production doesn\u2019t require any hazardous chemicals.<\/p>\n
\u201dOur Solid material can be efficiently recycled, while it\u2019s also suitable for industrial composting. The <\/em>compostability<\/em><\/a> 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,\u201d<\/em> explains Heidi Peltola<\/strong>, Head of Product at Sulapac.<\/p>\n In addition, Sulapac Solid leaves behind no permanent microplastic, which poses severe risks to ecosystems and human health. \u201cAll our materials can be digested by naturally occurring microbes. Hence, Sulapac materials do not accumulate in the food chain, unlike conventional plastic,\u201d<\/em> Peltola says.<\/p>\n The Sulapac eco cups are used in the selected pilot restaurants for two months. The customer receives the cup from the cashier and returns it after use to the appointed collection tray. The cup can be washed around 200 times. At its end of life, Sulapac takes care of recycling the cups.<\/p>\n 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. \u201cIn other words, we turn Restel\u2019s discarded cups into new drinking cups, following the principles of the <\/em>circular economy<\/em><\/a>,\u201d<\/em> concludes Peltola.<\/p>\n Sulapac\u2019s closed-loop service is available to its hospitality and cosmetics customers worldwide.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong>\u00a0Arcos Dorados Holdings Makes Sustainable Change to McDonald’s Packaging. Check out the story here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nA truly circular solution<\/strong><\/h4>\n