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Starbucks' Mineral-coated Paper Cup, Amazon Announces Automated Packaging System, and PepsiCo Introduces Paper-based Alternative to Plastic Chip Bag

See a few examples of paper-based packaging from Starbucks, Amazon, and PepsiCo from ThePackHub’s Innovation Zone.

The cups are currently being introduced in Germany, France, Switzerland, and Austria, with launches planned later this year in the UK and Ireland.
The cups are currently being introduced in Germany, France, Switzerland, and Austria, with launches planned later this year in the UK and Ireland.
ThePackHub

These innovations highlight the significant progress being made in adopting paper-based solutions, driven by both functionality and sustainability. 

Learn more about ThePackHub's Innovation Zone here.

Starbucks' Mineral-coated Paper Cups Aim to Boost Hot Drink Cup Recyclability 

Starbucks has begun rolling out paperboard to-go cups for hot drinks across ten European countries, replacing traditional polyethylene (PE) barrier coatings with a mineral-based alternative made from silicon dioxide. The switch aims to improve recyclability and reduce the environmental impact of disposable drinkware, which has historically been difficult to process due to the combination of plastic and paper layers. The cups are currently being introduced in countries including Germany, France, Switzerland, and Austria, with launches planned later this year in the UK and Ireland. Starbucks has not disclosed the volume of cups expected to be used under this new format. Manufacturing is handled by Transcend Packaging at its facility in Wales, while the barrier coating is supplied by Qwarzo, based in Italy. The paperboard substrate is provided by Metsä Board, a Finnish producer known for its lightweight, high-quality fibre materials. The silicon dioxide coating is applied to both the inner surface of the cup and the matching lid, offering liquid resistance without relying on petroleum-based plastics. The innovation addresses a challenge in paper cup recycling. 

This approach is expected to minimize the use of excess materials and maximize space efficiency during transportation.This approach is expected to minimize the use of excess materials and maximize space efficiency during transportation.ThePackHub

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Editors report on distinguishing characteristics that define each new product and collected video demonstrating the equipment or materials as displayed at the show. This topical report, winnowed from nearly 300 PACK EXPO collective booth visits, represents a categorized, organized account of individual items that were selected based on whether they were deemed to be both new, and truly innovative, based on decades of combined editorial experience in experiencing and evaluating PACK EXPO products.
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