Why should you join the paper cup alliance?
What is the Alliance Gobelet Carton (Paper Cup Alliance)?
The Alliance Gobelet Carton (AGC) was created on 21 March 2019. It is the first professional association to bring together all the players in the paper cup sector in France.
What is the mission of the Alliance Gobelet Carton?
The mission of the paper cup alliance is to promote a responsible paper cup and help improve end-of-life management and recycling efficiency of paper cups in France.
Who is meant to join the Alliance Gobelet Carton?
Several players are involved in the origin of the paper cup. Here is a list of the main players involved in the design and production of paper cups, all of whom are meant to join the Alliance Gobelet Carton.
Paper/board manufacturers: these companies are responsible for producing the material used to make paper cups. They use machines to transform raw board into sheets or reels of paper/board laminated with a PE coating or sprayed with a water-based varnish to make it waterproof. This raw material is then used to make paper cups.
Paper cup manufacturers: these companies buy paper/board from the paper/board manufacturers and use special machines (printing, cutting and forming) to make paper cups. They are responsible for the design and production of paper cups, as well as their possible personalisation with logos or designs for events or businesses.
Paper cup distributors: these companies buy paper cups from manufacturers and resell them to users, such as fast-food chains, cafés, businesses, supermarkets or outdoor events.
Customers: the end users of paper cups are responsible for their proper use, handling and recycling. Consumers can also influence businesses to adopt sustainable practices and to choose eco-friendly paper cups.
It is important to note that the production and use of paper cups can have a significant environmental impact, and it is therefore essential that every player involved takes steps to reduce this impact and promote sustainable practices.
Are recycling and hygiene the real strengths of the paper cup?
The paper cup is made from virgin fibres that can be recycled several times to create new products. Even though a thin layer of plastic is used to make the container waterproof, this does not prevent recycling. Originally, single-use packaging was designed to prevent the spread of diseases and epidemics.
In the early 20th century, the first disposable cup, called the "Health Cup", was created to reduce cross-contamination and the incidence of infectious diseases in hospitals, schools, public places and transport, as well as in vending machines and the catering industry.
The use of single-use packaging helps prevent cross-contamination of food products by bacteria, pathogenic viruses and allergens in the retail, self-service, catering and human food chain sectors.
The bacteria responsible for foodborne illnesses have not changed since 1900 and have become more resistant to antibiotics, increasing the risks to human health.
What is the carbon footprint of the paper cup?
The carbon footprint of the paper cup can vary depending on several factors such as the type of board used, the production process, the distance travelled for delivery and the end-of-life treatment method.
However, in general, the paper cup has a lower carbon footprint than single-use plastic cups at the time of use. Indeed, according to one study, the carbon footprint of a 25 cl paper cup is about 0.11 kg CO2, whereas that of a plastic cup of the same size at the time of use was about 0.15 kg CO2.
However, it is important to note that the environmental impact of the paper cup can be reduced by taking steps to recycle paper cups properly. In addition, the use of renewable raw materials, such as wood fibres from sustainably managed forests, can also help reduce the environmental impact of the paper cup.
