James Cropper is one of only two facilities in the UK with the capability to recycle coffee cups, with a current capacity to upcycle 500 million cups per year. Our facility is an excellent example of the innovation present within the paper industry, which is increasingly harnessing modern technology to solve wider societal problems. “However, currently only one per cent of the 2.5 billion cups we use in the UK each year are being recycled – a problem that comes down to a lack of sufficient infrastructure and consumer information. In order to significantly increase these rates in line with the Environmental Audit Committee’s 2023 aspiration, it will take continued investment in nationwide recycling initiatives.

At James Cropper, we’ve developed the technology to recycle disposable paper cups on a commercial scale with our CupCyclingTM process. Furthermore, we have created a supply chain by partnering with waste management companies, coffee chains and restaurants, enabling cup waste to be turned into beautiful papers. For example, we work with Selfridges to take their used coffee cups and use the reclaimed fibres to produce their iconic yellow shopping bags. We also work with GF Smith, which has recently launched a range of papers, called Extract, using our coffee cup material.

“What we need now is to build on the platform that has already been created so we can collectively instil a change in consumer habits and tackle a longstanding environmental concern.