Certified home compostable coffee cups are here! Our Aqueous cups are made with a water-based dispersion coating that gets absorbed into the paper the cup is made from. With our certified home compostable sugarcane lids, you can now have a completely home compostable takeaway cup solution!
Quick facts about our Aqueous cups and Sugarcane lids :
Certified home compostable to Australian Standards (AS5810)
Biodegrades in less than 12 weeks in your home compost
Aqueous cups use less material than other coffee cups
An aqueous coating is a transparent, water-based type of lining that is applied to paperboard during the manufacturing process. ‘Aqueous’ or ‘water-based’ refers to the technique of using water to ensure that the lining is watertight when it dries. This allows your coffee cup to hold your coffee without leaking or getting soggy, while reducing emissions and the material used to make the cup.
What is ‘aqueous’ coating made from?
It contains a small fraction of synthetic polymers compared to other cups on the market, which creates a food-safe and waterproof protective layer once the coating is dry.
How is the ‘aqueous’ coating applied?
Aqueous coating is applied like paint – it is printed onto the paper, where it is absorbed into the paper fibres.
Do all home compostable cups have a coating?
Yes, all home compostable cups have a waterproof coating. If your cup did not have a waterproof coating, it would get soggy like normal cardboard when you add coffee to it.
How are aqueous cups different from other cups?
Linings like PLA bioplastic or regular PE plastic are glued or sprayed onto the paper, leaving a coating or top layer. On the other hand, Aqueous cups don’t have an additional layer since the waterproof coating is already embedded in the fibres of the paper using the water-based dispersion technique. Aqueous cups also contain less than one-third of the waterproof material needed in a PLA-lined alternative.
Beware of Greenwashing
Home compostable cups have arrived on the scene and have been hailed as the next generation of paper cups. At first glance, they truly look like a revolutionary product with claims such as “home compostable”, “recyclable”, “plastic-free”, “bioplastic-free”, and “guilt-free". Unfortunately, under this facade of sustainability is a lot of greenwashing.
Here’s what you need to remember about these claims:
“COMPOSTABLE”
Look for the compostability logos on the product and, more importantly, the company’s specific licence number.
Remember, to “adhere” to compostability standards is not the same as being certified. How would you know if the manufacturer is really adhering to the standards if they are not licensed?
All aqueous coating on the market contains a small amount of synthetic polymers, so it is not plastic-free. However, BioPak is assisting the research & development of two of the leading manufacturers of a plastic-free alternative due to launch in late 2023.
“BIODEGRADABLE”
Everything 'biodegrades' eventually.
Check the time it will take for the product to biodegrade. Will it take a year or 500 years?
Demand transparency from the manufacturers.
What is a Home Compost Certification?
Certification Logo
The home compostable certification logo verifies a product’s claim of compostability.
Certification Type
The certification indicates the composting type and applicable region. To display the logo, materials must pass strict AS5810 tests at accredited Australian labs.
BioPak Licence Number
The unique licence numbers show that a specific business’ product range has passed the testing for compostability. You can search for the numbers on theABA database.
We are committed to bringing you the most sustainable and innovative materials and will be converting all our BioCup ranges across to Aqueous.
BioPak is currently working on the next steps for cup linings beyond Aqueous. Within 12 months we plan to launch a plant-based and home compostable PLA bioplastic and a new revolutionary material PHA – an innovative material that will be certified to biodegrade even in marine settings. Choose certified home compostable Aqueous cups in the meantime, and we will migrate you across to better alternatives as they are released.
Let’s dig into the truth about home compostable cups, and how you, as the consumer, can avoid greenwashing.
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Join Compost Connect
Compost Connect is a not-for-profit platform connecting businesses to compost pick up services. Search your postcode to find out if compost collection is available in your area.
By joining Compost Connect, you’ll be diverting waste from landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, showing your commitment to environmental sustainability, and turning your food and packaging waste into nutrient-rich compost!
