Among the challenges presented by effective and efficient recycling of materials are fast-food packaging, which often has a waxy coating that is difficult to process.
That’s why a restaurant and catering company based in Finland has been looking for alternatives, taking advantage of a new type of fast-food packaging that can be reused and recycled.
Restel is using Sulapac material for cups at two Burger King stores, according to Renewable Carbon News. Customers who receive the reusable cups will be able to return them after use in designated areas of the restaurants. It is said that a cup can be used 200 times and is then sent to Sulapac when it reaches the end of its useful life, where it will be recycled.
According to Sulapac’s head of product, Heidi Peltola, Sulapac is 100% bio-based and can be industrially composted. This means it can decompose naturally and avoid the risk of creating microplastics.
“All of our materials can be digested by natural microbes,” Peltola said in a statement. “Consequently, Sulapac materials do not accumulate in the food chain, unlike conventional plastic.”
In fact, microplastics have been found in almost every location on the globe. In the oceans, they can accumulate in the bodies of marine animals. Microplastics can then potentially enter the human body through the consumption of seafood.
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A study published in the journal Toxicological Sciences and summarized by Guardian, found microplastics in all 23 human testicles and 47 dog testicles that scientists examined. The researchers predicted that this could be linked to the decline in sperm count.
Elsewhere, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found microplastics in arterial plaque samples, noting that the presence of this material in the human bloodstream may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death, such as The conversation detailed.
Therefore, everything we can do to reduce the use of plastic in our daily lives is extremely important for human health.
Anna Koskinen, Sustainability and Communications Manager at Restel, noted: “By collaborating with Sulapac, we can mitigate the negative climate and environmental impacts related to single-use and petroleum-based plastics, while advancing the circular bioeconomy.”
While Restel’s solution is promising, it will undergo a two-month trial period in restaurants before being fully implemented. There is also the question of how this might translate to larger markets, such as the United States. Larger quantities of recyclable cups may be more difficult to process if the appropriate technology is not available.
But for now, it’s a fascinating glimpse into how fast-food chains can use new materials to get closer to a circular economy. For Burger King, it can also provide information on how adopting more environmentally friendly practices could increase customer loyalty.
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