Note that this garage's reception area is immaculate. To make the customer's wait as enjoyable as possible there is a state-of- the-art hot beverage vendor and a pile of new car magazines and brochures. If you have to wait for work to be completed or even the invoice to be printed you are directed or taken to reception and a drink is offered to you - the scent of coffee is delightful; it smells just like a high-class coffee shop. However, not is all as it seems. The drink is vended and that's where things go wrong. The flimsy, brown plastic cup wobbles, immediately burns your fingers and threaten to spill its contents down your front! You know the routine; double-up or even treble the number of the cups to form something more substantial. It is then the pile of used plastic cups catches your eye. How many others have been faced with either scalding themselves or adding to the pile of plastic waste?

Indeed, many debates revolve around the vending cup. Should it be plastic, should it be paper - what delivers the better taste? Which is easier to recycle: plastic or paper? Should you brand the cup or should you stick with a plain version; even this has environmental implications.

The plastic cup has always been a bit of a puzzle to the public. A straw poll reveals that people would prefer to use paper cups from the point of view that they seem more user friendly, but at the same time few people realise that most are lined with ‘plastic' to prevent the liquid penetrating the material.

So we come back to the environmental issue. The AVA recently wrote to its members highlighting the need for the vending industry to respond positively by supporting Save a Cup. This forward thinking company has held fast to its goals and it is now coming into its own by providing a scheme that has collected more than a billion cups collected so far for recycling. The company's objective is to increase the number of cups collected in line with Government targets for recycling packaging waste. Save a Cup reportedly is now starting to offer services for polypropylene and paper cups, filter packs/pods and cans.

Save a Cup undoubtedly is something that vending operators ought to highlight to customers - the website www.save-a-cup.co.uk explains how it all works.

Environmentally-friendlier products emerge

For those seeking the very latest developments in vending, packaging expert Huhtamaki has introduced what it calls one of the most innovative products around - its new bio-coated vending cups that are available in the popular 9oz/270 ml size.

The ever-increasing demand for sustainable products led Huhtamaki to develop its vending range. The cup is not only a welcome addition to the company's existing range of single-use BioWare cups, plates, containers and cutlery, but is, as with all BioWare products, completely compostable.

Available in the attractive BioWare stock design, thanks to Huhtamaki's excellent printing service, you can also customise the cups to your own requirements - a great promotional tool! Simply provide a name, logo, slogan of design, and Huhtamaki will do the rest!

Manufactured using materials from sustainably managed forests (which can be traced back to their origins), the cup's cartonboard material has the Forestry Stewardship Council's (FSC) chain of custody certificate. In addition, thanks to the cup's innovative bio-coating, the product can be composted in industrial composting facilities. The entire chain, from raw material input to production and disposal, has been designed to have a minimal impact on the environment.

Designed to fulfil the needs of various foodservice operators, the extensive BioWare range of products are ideal for outdoor and banquet-style catering, offering packaging disposables that are primarily made of renewable plant materials. All BioWare products are certified in accordance with EN13432, the European ‘norm' for compostability of packaging.

The Paper Cup Company offers the Ecotainer^TM from International Paper. The cup is lined with a bio-plastic made from corn. This will break down into water, carbon dioxide and organic matter.

The cup is part of a revolutionary new line of food service packaging that provides a more environmentally sensitive alternative to traditional disposables says the literature. Sourced from fully renewable resources, these cups use a corn-based plastic as a moisture barrier rather than petro-chemical. This new PLA-based coating also makes the cup compostable in commercial composting facilities and is also recyclable. Combined with a smaller manufacturing energy requirement, the cup reduces our environmental impact while providing all the functionality of a standard cup.

"Consumers will notice no difference as they enjoy coffee with this cup - but the environment will," said Austin Lance, VP/GM Foodservice Business of International Paper. "It's the first in what will be a series of Ecotainer products that reflect our company's concern for the environmental footprint we leave behind."

"Converting to this cup will mean that we consume nearly a quarter of a million pounds less of non-renewable petrochemical materials every year," said GMCR's (Green Mountain Coffee Roasters ) Paul Comey, VP, Environmental Affairs. "That's why we think this is such a revolutionary eco-friendly cup."

The Ecotainer cup is available in 4oz/120ml, 8oz/240ml, 12oz/360ml and 16oz/480ml versions and is compostable according to both EU and US certification.

Environmentally responsible brand building

Solo Cup Europe is one of the first food packaging companies to implement an environmental management system based on ISO14001. The company manufactures its products with due consideration to the environment. Initiatives to ensure the highest standards of hygiene have been implemented and we undertake a series of environmentally-friendly activities to reduce our carbon footprint. The company reportedly will showcase its new and revolutionary FastTrack^TM and BrandBuilder^TM paper hot cup printing services at Hotelympia 2008 (17th to 21st February 2008, ExCel, London) and will be advising operators on how they can maximise their branding potential.

BrandBuilder enables smaller operators to build their brand image by having their own bespoke printed paper cups, in quantities of just 5000, 15,000 and 25,000. According to the company, in the past branded cups have only been available in large quantities of 50,000 plus; far more than a local coffee shop or café would need or could store.

FastTrack allows operators to order large or small quantities of branded paper hot cups at the last minute - ideal for events, exhibitions and one-off brand promotions. FastTrack service means that, from artwork approval, bespoke printed paper cups will be ready in an incredible lead-time of just 2 weeks, without comprising design and print quality.

Looking ahead

The heightening environmental debate and the call to action from the AVA and Save a Cup clearly show that we can't be complacent about waste. It isn't easy when the industry is likely to be dealing with customers who themselves are struggling with waste recycling issues. However, now is the time for educating the customer base, making them aware of what vending companies are doing and highlighting the services and products available that will help them to maintain their own environmental policies.

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