Why are the reusable Billie cups made of plastic?
Our Billie Cups are made from 100% recyclable Polypropylene (PP for short). PP is the best option for our reusable cups for the 3 following reasons:
Longer lifespan of our reusable cups
Billie Cups are reusable and durable, thanks to the sturdiness of PP and their thickness. They can therefore be used for years to come. The aim is for our cups to be strong enough to withstand the deposit system and stay as long as possible in our network of Billie Cup partners.
Environmental sustainability
Compared with other materials, we have found that PP is the best option for minimising energy consumption during production and recycling. For example, stainless steel is very expensive to produce. It is therefore difficult to implement in a network system. Ceramic and glass are too fragile. Another alternative is bamboo, but its fibre contains melamine, which is as chemical as plastic and cannot be recycled. What’s more, it’s not as strong or durable as PP. Bamboo works for personal use, but not for a deposit system.
User-friendly
Billie Cups have been designed for ease of use. The thick PP sides of the cup mean you can serve and consume hot drinks without burning yourself. This is a major advantage, especially for takeaways where you don’t necessarily have time to wait for your drink to cool down.
What’s more, they can withstand all types of dishwasher. So they’re long-lasting, chemical-free while looking stylish and trendy!
Of course, we are constantly looking for alternatives to PP. We have researched bioplastics, which have similar properties and could be used for the deposit system we have set up. But at the moment, bioplastics cannot be recycled. We will be changing material as soon as we find a better alternative. We hope to find one soon.