Torontonian caffeine fiends will be the first in North America to sample the completely sustainable and totally lidless Zero Cup at A&W.
Best known for its burgers and root beer, in recent years, A&W Canada has also quietly garnered a reputation for being one of the fast food segment’s most proactive eco-pioneers. After being the first restaurant chain to introduce the Beyond Meat Burger in Canada, and to eliminate single-use plastic straws in North America, it’s once more in the vanguard with the trial launch of the Zero Cup. Beginning March 14, the 100% biodegradable, recyclable, and sustainably-sourced paper cup will be available, for a limited time, at participating A&W locations across the GTA.
The futuristic-looking cup with the impeccable green credentials was designed by UK-based ButterflyCup with the aim of resolving two of the major issues that taint the eco-cred of traditional single-use “recyclable” cups: plastic lids and plastic liners, most of which can’t be recycled.
The ButterflyCup is made entirely of biodegradable paper. Instead of plastic, its “lid” consists of two paper flaps. Neatly folded on top of each other, they form a concave-shaped seal, with two drinking spouts at each end. On the inside, the plastic coating commonly used to keep paper from getting soggy and disintegrating, has been replaced by a unique water-based coating that prevents leaking.
The non-profit, Zero Waste Canada, estimates that of the 14 billion cups of coffee Canadians consume annually, five billion are served in single-use cups that end up in landfills, where it could take some 500 years for the plastic lids to fully decompose. Widespread adoption of a completely disposable and recyclable coffee cup would certainly free up a lot of space at the landfill. That the ButterflyCup can be used for cold as well as hot drinks could also translate into a reduced dependence on straws.
"Each year, A&W Canada serves millions of takeout drinks, so finding a more sustainable single-use cup solution is one way we can make a big difference," says Susan Senecal, President & CEO of A&W Canada in a press release.
If they pass the trial phase, Zero Cups will not only make life more sustainable for the planet, but also for consumers. Just think; after downing your drink, you won’t have to tax your caffeinated brain by figuring out which cup component goes in which garbage recipient, thus conserving precious cognitive energy.
