COSTA/Whitbread Project

Extensive investigation in the recyclability and disposal of paper coffee cups in collaboration with COSTA.

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The Director of the Advanced Resource Efficiency Centre, Professor Lenny Koh, was commissioned by COSTA to investigate the recyclability and disposal route of paper cups.

COSTA decided to launch a pioneering recycling scheme after environmental campaigner and prominent chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall raised awareness about the non-recyclability of paper cups used by coffee chains in his show, Hugh’s War on Waste (BBC1).

According to the Guardian, Britons drink approximately 8 million takeaway coffees every day, resulting in roughly 3 billion used paper cups a year. Despite this staggering number, it is estimated that fewer than 1 in 400 cups is recycled.

The £100,000 project includes an in-depth investigation of consumer attitudes and behaviours towards paper cups recycling, as well as a lab analysis of the cups’ materials to better assess necessary recycling processes.

SCEnAT was used in the mapping of the paper cup recycling chain. A large-scale national survey was completed. Lab and pilot tests of the paper cups were undertaken.

Professor Lenny Koh

Cross Cutting Chief, Strategic Futures on Resource Sustainability (SCRS)
Management School

Professor Lenny Koh, is a Chair Professor in Operations Management, Founders and Directors of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LSCM) Research Centre at the Management School.