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Packaging sustainability refers to its environmental impact throughout its life cycle, from product design to complete elimination. For packaging to be considered sustainable, it must meet one or several of the following characteristics:

• RECYCLABLE
• BIODEGRADABLE/COMPOSTABLE
• MANUFACTURED FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS
• REUSABLE

It must not generate waste. Zero Waste.

See paper cupsSee rPET cupsSee takeaway cups

Compostable means that we can put the packaging in an organic bin. It is composted in an industrial composting plant, turning it into COMPOST - ORGANIC FERTILISER.

For packaging to be COMPOSTABLE, it must meet the EN 13432 standard. Several certifications guarantee that a product complies with this standard and can be turned into compost.

Donosac holds these certificates:

• SEEDLING LOGO - TÜV AUSTRIA

Biodegradable means that the packaging can break down ‘over time’ thanks to biological agents (plants, fungus, microorganisms, etc.) under natural environmental conditions. Humans play no part in this.

On the other hand, compostable packaging biodegrades, although this takes a certain amount time under specific conditions. Composting is a procedure controlled by humans.

A compostable product is biodegradable, but a biodegradable product is not necessarily compostable.

Standard and compostable paper cups are coated with a thin plastic lining to stop liquid soaking into the paper.

Compostable paper cups are coated in a bioplastic called PLA (derived from corn starch). They must meet the EN-13432 standard, verified by the certifying company.

Standard paper cups are lined in PE (polyethylene) plastic, a fossil plastic. The PE layer is not compostable.

PLASTIC-FREE cups do NOT have a plastic lining.

The “FREE” cup is not lined with plastic. We use a new technique on it called WBBC (Water Based Barrier Coating).

This technique means that we get a 100% RECYCLABLE & REPULPABLE cup without any special treatment. It can be put in the paper bin, and it is recycled along with other paper waste in any paper recycling plant. It does not have to be separated for recycling. Furthermore, the cellulose obtained from recycling it is very high quality and can be used up to 7 times.

It is also COMPOSTABLE. You can put the cup in the organic bin and an industrial composting plant will turn it into compost, organic fertiliser. Zero Waste. Certified.

The FSC certificate (Forest Stewardship Council) provides a verified and independent guarantee that the product contains certified forest material, from sustainably-managed forests.

All our paper cups and paper products have the FSC certificate. The paper comes from sustainably-managed forests.

Yes. Like many other products, packaging can be manufactured from natural resources, and, after use, it can be recycled or turned into compost, or even reused. In these cases, it does not generate waste and it is part of the circular economy. By working together, we can help to take care of the environment.

On 3 July 2021, Article 7 –Marking requirements- came into force from the Directive (UE)2019/904 relating to the impact of certain plastic products on the environment.

Article 7 specifies items that must be marked, including drinking cups made entirely or partially from plastic.

Drinking cups made partially out of plastic must display the pictogram:

Paper cups are mostly lined with a thin plastic coating. The function of this layer is to prevent the liquid soaking through the paper. Consequently, the pictogram appears on some paper cups.

This marking campaign attempts to raise awareness on the importance of putting packaging in the right bin. If we don’t do this, packaging could end up in the sea and damage marine life. It’s up to us to take care of the environment.