Now there’s a novel new solution, The Good Cup from Hong Kong-based Choose Planet A. It’s an innovative, all-in-one, plastic-free paper cup, the culmination of the company's mission to eliminate plastic takeaway cups.
Made of 100% paper from agricultural waste in collaboration with envoPAP, The Good Cup is lined with a non-plastic, aqueous coating, making it fully recyclable and home compostable. The minimalist aesthetic boasts an integrated, fold-and-lock lid assembly that’s securely spill-proof and curved to align with the contours of the drinker’s mouth, eliminating the need for a secondary plastic lid while still providing a comfortable drinking experience.
The idea was seeded 16 years ago when Cyril Drouet, co-founder and managing director, Choose Planet A, attended Glastonbury music festival in the UK. He noticed paper and plastic cup waste everywhere on the fields after a week of consumption by the event’s 200,000 attendees.
In July 2019, Drouet started his own green design studio. After more than 1,000 tweaks, tests and hand-made samples, he approached Far East Cup, one of the largest paper cup manufacturers in Asia, to improve the design and manufacture samples. Two years later, the company decided to be part of the project and in March 2022, Choose Plan A was born.
Launched internationally on a trial basis in August 2022, the Good Cup is currently manufactured in 8-, 12-, 16, and 20-ounce capacities.
Although interest from North America has led the company to develop a 24-ounce size, Drouet says Choose Planet A is not currently positioned to supply the North American market in a sustainable way, but it’s in the works.
Drouet says its most common applications are for hot and cold drinks however its configuration also works for hot and cold food such as wraps, French fries and chicken nuggets. The company has also fielded inquiries about using the cup as packaging for nonfoods such as candle refills, socks and underwear.
