By David Lawlor, Sales & Marketing Director of International Paper Foodservice Europe
It’s impossible to not have noticed the growth of our coffee culture over the last 10-15 years, which is now represented by 9,237 coffee shops alone (independent and branded) with a turnover of £1bn*. Add in those outlets that are not primarily coffee, so maybe sandwich/food retailers or bakeries and these numbers increase even further.
By 2030, it is predicted that the coffee shop market will be so important to the UK economy that coffee shops themselves will outnumber pubs**.
The figures are staggering, so it is not surprising that facilities managers within business and industry are responding to pressure to ensure Britain’s workforce is suitably refreshed with the high street-style hot beverage of their choice.
The good news is that there is an answer, as gourmet vending, or self-service coffee is also booming. In Project Café 2017 UK, Allegra World Coffee Portal reports that with 8,200 machines sited across the UK, gourmet vending now outnumbers the branded chain market.
For the facilities manager introducing a gourmet hot beverage vending service, perhaps alongside a sandwich or snack vending solution for staff, the choice of packaging – ie, the coffee cup, is an important one.
There has been plenty of media scrutiny over coffee cups, focusing mostly on the question of their recyclability. Facilities managers who must meet Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) targets need to be certain they are choosing the right packaging partner for them and that the products supplied are produced with sustainability high on the agenda. So what should facilities managers look for?
Provenance is increasing in importance and in packaging, this means understanding and knowing where the raw materials used in the manufacturing process come from and how they are sourced. Choosing packaging that carries a third party accreditation or certification is an important first step.
When it comes to gourmet vending this means ensuring your paper cup meets the requirements of a recognised Certified Sourcing Programme. International Paper is SFI® Certified. This programme ensures the use of fibre from responsible and legal sources, and promotes responsible forest management. Certification to this standard requires an independent audit by an accredited certification body, which ensures key values are being observed, including the protection of biodiversity, at-risk species, wildlife habitat and water quality as well as ensuring the rights of indigenous people are being recognised and respected.
In 2005, the SFI Programme was endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, PEFC, after a detailed examination by a PEFC-approved assessor.
Single-use packaging is important for any takeaway or vending service. Facilities managers should also therefore look for responsible suppliers who are committed to finding solutions for the waste that is generated. The Paper Cup Recovery & Recycling Group (PCRRG) is working with trade partners to promote the recovery and recycling of paper cups. The Paper Cup Manifesto was published last year to pull together cup recyclers, suppliers and the general public in this common aim.
The traditional paper cup is not your only option. You could also choose compostable cups, which are made from a biopolymer, such as PLA (corn starch) and which, when disposed of in an industrial composting facility will break down. These may, therefore, be disposed of with your site’s food waste.
This may cover the choice of materials, but what about the other credentials of your supply partner?
Sedex accreditation is becoming increasingly important across all sectors of British business and industry. Already widely used in retail sectors, Sedex, the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange, is a membership organisation dedicated to driving improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. To be registered with Sedex, businesses must be able to prove they operate in an ethical way with regards to the environment, employees and trading policies.
The Sedex platform enables ethical supply chain data to be shared and means organisations seeking to ensure they are dealing with ethical companies and products can easily access information and track their suppliers’ performance, enabling them to see at a glance that their suppliers are sourcing ethically.
About International Paper Foodservice Europe
International Paper Foodservice Europe manufactures paperboard and compostable foodservice packaging, including cups, from its facilities in Winsford, Cheshire and the USA. All its paperboard is SFI® chain of custody certified and its ecotainer® range is certified as compostable in an industrial composting facility by DIN CERTCO***.
International Paper Foodservice Europe supports the recycling initiatives of the PCRRG and is signed up to the Paper Cup Manifesto.
International Paper Foodservice Europe is registered with Sedex.
* MCA 2016 © / BIFM, 11 Key Trends, June 2016, (foodservice outlets where food-to-go comprises 20% or more of sales)
** Project Café2017 UK, Allegra World Coffee Portal
*** DIN CERTCO is an independent assessment and certification scheme that works with a broad range of products and services, enabling suppliers to document conformance to specified requirements
