Environmental Protection Journey Of Paper Tableware

In fact, since 2018, Starbucks, which is at the forefront of plastic rejection, has begun to explore the possibility of paper tableware recycling. At the beginning of 2018, Starbucks cooperated with two American companies, Sustana and West Rock, to carry out environmental protection experiments for recycling Starbucks coffee paper cups. According to reports, Starbucks sent 18 truckloads of 25 million squeezed old paper cups to Sustana's factory for processing. The plastic and pulp were separated, and then transferred to West Rock for cardboard pressing. Finally, the Seda company printed the logo to realize Starbucks Recyclable paper cups. The article pointed out that their experiment found that, unlike what is generally recognized, the cost of recycling old coffee cups is not higher than recycling other paper, and coffee pollution will not affect the success of recycling. In other words, coating does not affect the success of recycling. The real problem lies in the supply of waste paper cups and the process cost of recycling. Among them, the cost of the recycling process can be continuously reduced through technological upgrades, and ensuring a stable and large supply of waste paper cups will also reduce the processing cost. In addition to recycling, there is also the possibility of companies seeking environmental protection from the coating of paper tableware. The "Foopak Bio Natura" paper cup developed by APP from an Indonesian company replaces the traditional inner film with a water-based film. The degradation rate is less than 12 weeks, the recycling is simpler, and it has the characteristics of high temperature resistance and compostability. According to reports, this company promotes the development concept of "forest, pulp and paper" integration, integrates the upstream and downstream links, and advocates that the papermaking enterprises should bear the responsibility of afforestation, papermaking, and recycling. Another company, BASF, has launched ecovio-coated paper cups and paper bowls. The coating is also a water-based material, which has a shorter degradation time, and also has the characteristics of high temperature resistance and compostability. In 2019, Ele.me cooperated with BASF to launch "new species" paper cups and bowls with ecovio coating to promote the recycling of paper tableware and the development of environmental protection. Regardless of the suspicion of the budding industry, the rise of paper tableware is an unavoidable fact. Paper straws are just one member of the controversial family of paper tableware. What is really worrying is the ability of this industry to support the huge market demand and the quality and safety issues that follow. According to reports, since 2018, there has been a chaos in the domestic paper straw industry. Some manufacturers use modes such as outsourcing orders and OEM production for unjust profits. The quality of the raw materials they use is often difficult to guarantee, and the production process is not up to the standard, but the products are labelled by major manufacturers, which is worrying. The reason lies in the high production investment in the paper straw industry, high industry qualification requirements, lack of technical personnel, and industry standards that need to be improved. The report pointed out that at present, there are only less than 10 companies in the country that meet the qualifications for the production of paper straws. The budding state of the industry can be seen. It can be said that from production to sales to recycling, from technology research and development to process processing to recycling, we urgently need to escort the improvement of industry standards and management practices for alternatives to paper straws and other plastic straws. On the other hand, we also need more tolerance and support for alternatives to plastic straws such as paper straws. After all, technological progress requires innovation and patience, and the growth and regulation of the industry requires maturity and optimization of the management level.