Benders' - the Transition from Plastic to 100% Certified Paper Cups

Benders Paper Cups is the UK's only dedicated manufacturer of paper hot cups. It was recently approached by Connect Vending, one of the leading independent vending operators in England, who enlisted its help to facilitate the business's transition to 100% paper hot cups for their range of hot drinks vending machines.

Connect Vending approached Benders looking to invest in a paper cup solution for their customers, which would offer what it called the "specialty coffee shop experience" of a paper cup, complete with bespoke branding and a quality feel, from the convenience of a vending machine.

Benders Paper Cups is committed to sustainable material sourcing with both Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification, providing full traceability for all paper cups manufactured from materials sourced in sustainably managed forests. The company also endorses the Connect Vending strategy. Every cup can be traced back from Benders BRC, Grade-A production facility in North Wales to the certified forest where it began its journey. Connect Vending have developed their own print with Benders to promote the 'green story' of their cup, right up to encouraging consumers to dispose of the cup so that it can be collected and 100% recycled.

PEFC has been working closely with the packaging sector over the past year, helping to explain the benefits of sourcing packaging materials from PEFC-certified sources. There is a growing demand for more environmental information to be displayed on packaging, to help consumers make informed choices, with 54% of consumers trusting environmental labels that are displayed on their packaging. Retailers, brand owners and packaging suppliers can all help meet these customer demands by utilising packaging to display environmental information, and source their materials from renewable, responsibly-managed sustainable sources.

More and more companies are now looking to demonstrate that the fibre they use in the packaging comes from a certified sustainable source, and PEFC has been working hard with stakeholders to spread the message of sustainable forest management, support and promote the expansion of forest certification and grow markets for certified forest products.

This includes organisations such as the Consumer Goods Forum, who have recognised PEFC certified products as providing companies with verification of legality and providing a low risk of controversial sources which contribute to deforestation. The CGF brings together more than 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders, with members including global players such as Coca Cola, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg's, L'Oreal, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, Tesco and Asda-Walmart.

PEFC is an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation, dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) through independent, third-party certification. As an umbrella organisation, it works by endorsing national forest certification systems developed collaboratively by all interested stakeholders and tailored to local priorities and conditions.

Amanda Creed, Marketing Executive at Connect Vending, described the 'specialty coffee shop experience' and conversion to paper cups. She stated, "Picking up your favourite hot drink in a sleek, branded paper cup while out on the high street has become an experience enjoyed by many. The concept of recycling and 'going green' make the idea of using paper cups especially appealing in our increasingly eco-conscious culture.

"The transition to 100% paper and endorsement of the specialty coffee drinking experience in our own machines will enable Connect to place ourselves at the forefront of the industry as a renowned provider of a higher-quality hot drinks vending experience."
Discussing the service Connect Vending received from Benders, Amanda said, "I was incredibly happy with the service I received from Benders, and was particularly impressed with the due diligence exercised in material sourcing, and care that was taken to recreate our brand's vision on a paper cup."

She added, "When coupled with the great reception the cup received at the brand's launch event, I couldn't have asked for more."
Commenting on the transition from plastic to paper made by Connect Vending with Benders help, Alun Watkins, who heads up PEFC in the UK said, "We are delighted that Connect Vending has chosen to make this move from plastic to paper. A recent PEFC global survey also showed that more than 80% of consumers globally, want companies sourcing certified material from sustainably-managed forests to use certification labels. It also showed that labels, such as PEFC's are the most trusted means of providing consumers with confidence that wood-based products are sustainably-sourced."