Companies Brew Up a Kinder Cup
Many people take cream with their coffee, but how about some corn?
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters of Vermont and International Paper Co. unveiled an ``eco-friendly" cup made from corn and paper yesterday. Because the insides of conventional paper cups are lined with petroleum-based plastic, they can theoretically live ``for an eternity in a landfill," said Green Mountain spokeswoman Sanda Pecina.
The eco-friendly cup uses a corn-made ``bioplastic" lining, which can help the cup break down into ``water, carbon dioxide, and organic matter," according to the companies.
The cup represents a ``fantastic advance," said Stephen McCarthy , director of the Center for Biodegradable Polymer Research at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
Starbucks Corp. recently started using cups made of ``10 percent post-consumer recycled content." While always studying innovations, Dunkin' Donuts said it has no plans to change cups.
As part of a national launch, eco-friendly cups are being distributed to about 800 Massachusetts outlets that offer Green Mountain coffee , Pecina said.
But will the cup change the taste of your java?
Said International Paper vice president Austin Lance : ``Consumers will notice no difference as they enjoy coffee with this cup, but the environment will."
CHRIS REIDY
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters of Vermont and International Paper Co. unveiled an ``eco-friendly" cup made from corn and paper yesterday. Because the insides of conventional paper cups are lined with petroleum-based plastic, they can theoretically live ``for an eternity in a landfill," said Green Mountain spokeswoman Sanda Pecina.
The eco-friendly cup uses a corn-made ``bioplastic" lining, which can help the cup break down into ``water, carbon dioxide, and organic matter," according to the companies.
The cup represents a ``fantastic advance," said Stephen McCarthy , director of the Center for Biodegradable Polymer Research at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
Starbucks Corp. recently started using cups made of ``10 percent post-consumer recycled content." While always studying innovations, Dunkin' Donuts said it has no plans to change cups.
As part of a national launch, eco-friendly cups are being distributed to about 800 Massachusetts outlets that offer Green Mountain coffee , Pecina said.
But will the cup change the taste of your java?
Said International Paper vice president Austin Lance : ``Consumers will notice no difference as they enjoy coffee with this cup, but the environment will."
CHRIS REIDY
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company
posted by Colin & Donna-Lee | 5:15 PM
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