Smart Planet Technologies to speak at the Rising Tide Summit

Leading engineering company for sustainable packaging materials, Smart Planet Technologies, to speak about the reCUP® recyclable paper cup and EarthCoating® with ocean conservation leaders and businesses

Smart Planet Technologies will be presenting at the Rising Tide Summit, scheduled to take place in San Pedro, CA on the 27th and 28th of March, 2019. The materials engineering and intellectual property company will be speaking about reCUP and EarthCoating, their recyclable solutions designed to address the 50 billion paper cups that end up in US landfills each year.

Paper cups are a mixed material, comprised of paper and plastic. Conventional recycling systems are not designed to process the plastic coatings usually found in paper cups, so paper cups are typically diverted to landfills.

Smart Planet Technologies has developed EarthCoating, a barrier coating for paper cups and other paper products that is fully compatible with conventional paper recycling. EarthCoating contains 51% less plastic than conventional coatings, and the reCUP, made with EarthCoating, can be pulped into recycled paper using conventional paper recycling equipment. A paper cup that is compatible with recycling systems is a valuable material to recover for use in the production of recycled paperboard products.

Recycling is an optimal end-of life solution for paper cups because it supports a circular economy, as paper materials can be recycled up to seven times. The solution has already become a global phenomenon, with millions of paper cups across having been sold by packaging manufacturers and distributors including Detpak, CupPrint, VaioPak, Pureco, Linstol, Bunzl, Sysco, and more.

Attendees of the event will be served coffee in reCUPs, which will be collected for recycling into new paper products by Allan Company, a leading materials recycling service provider, upon the completion of the 2-day event.

“The first step to getting paper cups recycled is to make them valuable and easy for recyclers to process through their conventional recycling equipment,” said Todd Gasparik, Vice President of Business Development for Smart Planet Technologies and presenter at the Rising Tide Summit.

“Solving tough problems requires a thirst for innovation.” Said Vipe Desai, Founder of the Rising Tide Summit and CEO of HDX. “Smart Planet Technologies is bringing forth a solution that is long overdue and is already having an impact on the marketplace. It’s exactly the type of innovation needed and attendees are going to have a chance to experience and learn all about their technology.”

The Rising Tide Summit is underwritten by the X Prize Foundation and Marisla Foundation, and will be attended by several NGO's that are focused on waste diversion, plastic reduction, increased recycling rates, and ocean conservation. Some of the participating NGO's are Ocean Institute, 5 Gyres, Final Straw, and AltaSea.

Panel info:

Environmental Entrepreneurs: Problem Solvers in Action

Entrepreneurs are hard wired to solve problems and in this conversation, President and CEO of the Ocean Institute, Dan Pingaro, will sit with two entrepreneurs who are using business as a force for good. The problems of single-use plastic straws and un-recyclable paper cups might just be about to meet their match.

Their businesses are built on solving issues related to waste and we’ll learn how they’re doing, where they’re going and what can businesses and NGOs learn from their efforts.

Moderator: Dan Pingaro, President and CEO, Ocean Institute
Panelist: Emma Rose-Cohen, Founder, FinalStraw
Panelist: Todd Gasparik, Vice President of Business Development,Smart Planet Technologies

More information about the Rising Tide Summit to be held in San Pedro, CA on March 27 and 28 can be found here.

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EarthCoating® comes up aces, as recyclable paper cup awarded with highest level, “Triple A” certification for recyclability from The Green Dot

London, England — An unparalled achievement in sustainability has been reached as UK’s reCUP recyclable paper cup with EarthCoating, has been awarded the highest possible, “Category AAA Recyclable” certification per The Green Dot (Der Grune Punkt) recycling standards. In addition, the paper cups are classified for recycling compatibility and collection streams alongside premium uncoated paper grades such as office paper. The Green Dot recognizes standards for recyclability claims in 31 countries including the UK and Ireland. 

Given the UK’s coffee cup recycling debate and interest in reducing plastic content in packaging, it is a remarkable achievement for a paper cup technology to not only achieve the highest rating available for recyclability qualifying for a collection category alongside office paper, but also reducing plastic content in paper cups by 40%. 

The reCUP utilizes EarthCoating, a paperboard packaging coating producing paper cups that look the same and work just as well as any conventional paper cups. The difference is that EarthCoating is designed to be universally compatible with conventional paper cup recycling systems, avoiding the challenges that have been found in recycling of paper cups and other coated foodservice paperboard packaging. 

With less plastic and easier repulping, paper cups with EarthCoating can also improve paper cup processing and efficiency in the UK’s efforts in specialist paper cup recycling schemes of conventional paper cups, currently at a 4% recycling rate. 

The double-wall reCUP receiving certification contains these distinctive highlights: 

* 95% fiber recovery * Highest classification for recyclability alongside premium uncoated paper such as office paper * 40% less plastic content than conventional paper cups 

“EarthCoating continues to enable a new direction in the recycling of paperboard foodservice packaging” says Chris Tilton, Chief Materials Technology Officer at Smart Planet. “Paperboard packaging with EarthCoating is engineered for recycling and valuable to recyclers to collect and recycle, while maintaining the required levels of packaging performance. The certification demonstrates the ability to take immediate steps to solve the problem, using any and all of the UK recycling infrastructure and programs.” 

This certification for paper cups with EarthCoating is compliant with the Packaging Recovery Organization Europe “PRO” program per EU Directive 94/62. 

The Triple-A Green Dot Certificate is available in the EarthCoating Repulping Report at http://www.smartplanettech.com 

Paper cups with EarthCoating are widely available for sale in the UK and Ireland. For a list of manufacturers and distributors of paper cups with EarthCoating, please visit Smart Planet Technologies or reCUP.earth.

Muscle Maker Grill and Pie-Not adopt universally recyclable paperboard foodservice packaging

Newport Beach, CA, November 27, 2018 --As global demand for increased recycling rates and plastic reduction in single use packaging continues to grow, US-based restaurants and coffeehouses are doing their part for the environment by adopting the reCUP® recyclable paper cup and other recyclable paperboard foodservice products, made with EarthCoating® barrier coating. The most recent are Muscle Maker Grill with 40 locations, and Pie-Not with two locations.

Most conventional paperboard-based foodservice packaging such as paper cups and takeout trays are coated with polyethylene plastic, creating a mixed material that is too difficult for paper recyclers to process, thus these materials are diverted to landfill. It is estimated that over 58 billion paper cups are sent to landfills each year in the US. 

Paperboard packaging made with EarthCoating uses 51% less plastic, is engineered to be easily pulped into recycled paper using conventional paper recycling equipment and is certified to be recyclable per industry standards. This allows the recycling industry to increase recovery of valuable materials, and reduce materials sent to landfills.

Muscle Maker Grill, a healthy meal prep and quick service restaurant, announced that they have started using the reCUP® for their cold beverages and hope to have it in all locations very soon in support of their sustainable packaging initiatives. “We’ve started using reCUPs because it’s the right thing to do for the environment,” said MMG brand COO, Kenn Miller.

Pie-Not, an Aussie-Style Bakery restaurant with locations in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach, CA, now uses reCUPs to serve their hot beverages. “Using reCUPs is a simple way of doing our part to reduce plastic and keep paper cups out of our landfills and oceans,” said Pie-Not partner, Ryan Lopicollo. "We've found that our customers are more aware now than ever about plastic, so we are thrilled to partner with Green Cobra Packaging, who offered us reCUPs to serve our customers a sensible solution for their daily coffee," said Matty Heffner, Pie-Not partner.

These US-based reCUP announcements follow several recent international announcements from eco-minded brands switching to packaging with EarthCoating, including Australia-based Hungry Jack’s (Burger King), London-based Canary Wharf (world’s largest office complex), and independent coffeehouse chains around the globe. 

“The first step to getting paper cups recycled is to use a cup that is valuable and easy for recyclers to process through their conventional paper recycling equipment”, said Todd Gasparik, Vice President of Business Development for Smart Planet Technologies, developers of EarthCoating. “EarthCoating is a drop-in replacement for conventional plastic coatings, and you instantly have foodservice packaging that is fully recyclable and with half of the plastic.”

EarthCoating is a highly-mineralized resin alternative to traditional plastic coatings, which may be used to make a variety of paperboard barrier packaging including hot cups, cold cups, food trays, folding cartons, liners, labels, corrugated packaging, and more.

The reCUP and foodservice packaging with EarthCoating are provided to Muscle Maker Grill and Pie-Not through Sysco Foodservice. The closed-loop recycling program for reCUP and other paperboards with EarthCoating is available through Allan Company Recycling and their affiliates.

About Smart Planet Technologies
Smart Planet Technologies is a materials engineering and intellectual property company focused on material advancements for the packaging industry.

 To learn more, visit: www.SmartPlanetTech.com and www.reCUP.earth

About Green Cobra Packaging
Green Cobra Packaging is a North American foodservice packaging supplier and one of Smart Planet Technologies’ preferred vendors of paperboard barrier packaging made with EarthCoating®.

To learn more, visit: www.greencobras.com

Canary Wharf Group aims sights on recyclable paper cups made with EarthCoating® in support of plastic reduction and increased recycling rates

Canary Wharf Group commits to exploring the use of recyclable paper cups made with EarthCoating® at One Canada Square

Canary Wharf, London, September 25, 2018 – As global demand for a sustainable solution in paper cup waste continues to rise, Canary Wharf Group in London, England has decided to conduct trials for a paper cup made with EarthCoating® which is said to use 43% less plastic than traditional paper cups and be easily pulped into recycled paper using conventional paper recycling equipment.

“As a responsible landlord, we want to raise awareness of alternative technologies that could provide further value to our Estate community.  A solution like Earth Coating® has potential to demonstrate a closed-loop system where used paper cups could be reprocessed into goods like printing paper, which could then be brought back into our offices” said Lugano Kapembwa, Sustainability Manager for Canary Wharf Group. 

The end of life hierarchy for disposable paper packaging has been clearly identified as Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and so any opportunity to recapture virgin fibers from paper cups for recycling clearly supports the circular economy which is of grave importance.

“The first step to getting paper cups recycled is to make paper cups that are easy to process through existing paper recycling equipment” said Todd Gasparik, VP of Business Development for Smart Planet Technologies, developers of EarthCoating®. “Now that we’ve done this, the recycling experts can extract the value and divert a tremendous amount of waste from the landfill.

EarthCoating® can be used as a sustainable coating alternative for all types of packaging applications including paper hot/cold cups, food trays, takeaway boxes, food wraps, liners, labels and more. EarthCoating® may be run on existing equipment at commercial line speeds and paper packaging produced with it require no additional infrastructure in order to be easily pulped back into office paper.

Canary Wharf Group plans to announce further details of its trial in the near future and is working to ensure the existing infrastructure is ready and able to accommodate this exciting program. 

About Canary Wharf Group 
Canary Wharf Group plc has overseen the largest urban regeneration project ever undertaken in Europe, designing and building more than 16.5m sq ft of London real estate, which now houses local and international companies and renowned retailers. 

The Canary Wharf estate is a major retail destination comprising around 1m sq ft across five shopping malls, including the award-winning leisure development, Crossrail Place, housing one of London’s most stunning roof gardens.  It also has world-class, year-round arts and events programme offering over 200 diverse and culturally inspiring events performed throughout the Estate.

Canary Wharf’s new district, Wood Wharf, will provide up to 3,600 new homes, 2.8m sq ft of office space, 380,000 sq ft of retail space and over eight acres of public spaces, squares and parks. There will also be a GP surgery and a two-form primary school for 420 children.

Canary Wharf Group is a wholly owned joint venture between Brookfield Property Partners and the Qatar Investment Authority. 

Website: www.canarywharf.com
Instagram: @canarywharflondon
Twitter @CanaryWharfGrp; @YourCanaryWharf;@Level39CW

 About Smart Planet Technologies
Smart Planet Technologies is a materials engineering and intellectual property company focused on sustainable material advancements for the paper-based packaging industry. Our highly-mineralized resin technology (EarthCoating®) uses 43-51% less plastic than Polyethylene and may be used to produce paper-based packaging applications that can be easily pulped into recycled paper using conventional paper recycling equipment. 

EarthCoating® is ideal for hot/cold cups, tubs, folding cartons, food trays, liners, labels, takeaway boxes, corrugated boxboards and point-of-purchase displays. EarthCoating® may be run at high commercial line speeds on existing converting equipment and offers significant performance, economic and environmental benefits compared to plastic coatings.

DETPAK LAUNCHES THE FIRST TRULY RECYCABLE TAKEAWAY CUP AND COLLECTION SYSTEM IN THE UK

Cup today. Paper tomorrow

Coffee cups across the UK will be saved from landfill and commercially recycled into paper, with the introduction of Detpak’s RecycleMe™ system.

This ground-breaking recycling collection system closes the loop for the industry and guarantees collected paper cups will be counted and recycled into high quality paper products.

The revolutionary takeaway coffee cups feature an innovative next generation lining called EarthCoating® which uses 43% less plastic than traditional UK paper cups and allows them to be easily processed into recycled paper products using conventional paper recycling equipment. 

With more than two and a half billion paper cups sent to landfill each year in the UK Detpak’s Product Marketing Manager Kristin Camery said the RecycleMe™ system promotes a longer life for the paper cups and supports a circular economy to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value for as long as possible.

“Our RecycleMe™ collection system is a total end to end solution, turning takeaway cups into recycled paper products, and contributing to positive global environmental change,” Kristin said. 

Detpak has aligned with industry partner Shredall Ltd in the UK to collect, sort and recycle the cups as part of an existing national collection system in the United Kingdom. 

“Shredall currently has 13,000 collection points around the UK and will support the establishment of additional collection stations for RecycleMe™ cups”, said Shredall Sales Director Nik Williams. 

Unlike traditional plastic-coated paper cups which end up in the landfill or at select recyclers who claim to be processing them into various products using specialty infrastructure, but often unwilling to share full details, the RecycleMe™ system is designed to provide a guarantee and transparency of the recycling process.” 

In a UK first, Shredall will also be providing a collection service and recycling commitment for RecycleMe™ coffee cup lids. 

The RecycleMe™ system was officially launched to customers in the United Kingdom on Thursday 20 September and supported by barista champions from both Australia and the UK at an exclusive event at Taylor St Barista’s roastery. 

Andrew Tolley Co-Founder Taylor St Baristas announced they will be the first to launch into the UK market “The RecycleMe™ system will allow our customers to continue to experience the convenience of takeaway coffee without contributing to landfill. It’s a solution we can feel good about offering in our cafes”.

The RecycleMe™ system will be in cafes in Australia and New Zealand from November and Detpak are now taking orders for United Kingdom customers for launch in late 2018.

RecycleMe™ Cup today. Paper tomorrow. 

For further information please visit recycleme.co. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristin Camery Kristin.camery@detmoldgroup.comor +61418683406 Charlotte Williams charlotte@shredall.co.uk  or 07920 529 248

About Detpak 
A Member of the Detmold Group, Detpak is a global manufacturer of innovative, sustainable paper and board packaging dedicated to the food service industry. The Detmold Group has been owned and operated by the Detmold family since 1948. Detpak combines global reach with local expertise and offers a large range of ready-to-go packaging items as well as custom-print and tailored packaging solutions. 

About Shredall Ltd 
Shredall is the UK’s largest independently owned secure documentation service owned document-management company in the UK with a strong reputation service and the recycling of paper. Shredall currently service all of the UK and have collection partners globally.