US – SOFi Products, the Miami-based creator of durable, compostable paper SOFi, announced today it has released the first 100% biodegradable cup that eliminates the need for a plastic lid.
The launched SOFi Cold Cup is a foldable, plastic-free, and bioplastic-free cup that will biodegrade naturally within 180 days in landfills, soil, or marine environments.
The new product has four flaps that can be folded together to create a spill-proof cover and to fit any of the paper straws sold by SOFi.
According to the firm, a separate lid is not required with this design, saving firms money on both additional inventory and freight expenses.
“There are no cups currently on the market that are 100% biodegradable and eliminate the need for a plastic lid,” said SOFi co-founder Brandon Leeds.
“Until now, all cups — even those that say ‘compostable’ — must either be sent to a composting facility or recycled. Both rarely occur and cups end up in landfills where they will take decades to biodegrade.
“If the SOFi Cold Cup ends up in the ocean or a landfill, it will be gone in under 180 days. This product is made to be unmade.”
The innovative product is a result of co-founders (brothers Brandon and Jordan Leeds) search for better solutions after they grew tired of seeing plastic waste in the waterways and on the beaches of Miami. Rather than turning a blind eye, the two decided to do something about it.
SOFi stands for “South of Fifth,” which is the area of Miami beach in which the brothers were inspired.
In 2019, the brothers set out to create a paper straw that lasts for hours, does not get soggy, and does not taste like paper.
The straws were a hit and are now offered nationwide in Walmart and at a variety of coffee and restaurant chains, including La Colombe, Bluestone Lane, Earl of Sandwich, Alfred Coffee, and more.
The product is expected to reduce the number of plastic lids that end up in landfills or find their way into the waterways in the US.
According to the Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii (B.E.A.C.H.), ‘plastic bottle caps are one of the top 10 items found during marine debris beach clean-ups and are the second most littered item after cigarette butts.’
Innovations other than the recycling of plastics present a better alternative to reduce plastic pollution for a better world.
“At SOFi Paper Products, we believe protecting the planet should be straightforward, safe, and simple,” concludes SOFi co-founder Jordan Leeds.
“All of our products are made with real paper and without buzzwords. They’re the type of compostable that doesn’t require a special separate facility. And they are the type of biodegradable that you learned about in science class: Just put it in the ground and it goes away in less than 180 days.”
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