Air New Zealand has started to trial edible coffee cups, made from delicious biscotti, in an effort to reduce its onboard waste. Nike Chave from Air New Zealand said that while the company – which serves over eight million cups of coffee a year – has been using compostable, plant-based cups for some time, it was aiming to “remove these totally from landfills.”
The new cups are a baked biscuit base with vanilla flavouring. They are leak-proof and double as a dessert bowl. They are being tested both in the air and on the ground in an effort to find “innovative ways to meet sustainability challenges.”
“We’ve been working in partnership with innovative New Zealand company twiice to explore the future of edible coffee cups,” Chave said in a statement released by the airline. “The cups have been a big hit with the customers who have used these and we’ve also been using the cups as dessert bowls.”
Chave said Air New Zealand would continue to trial the edible coffee cups and work with twiice as well as other sustainable companies to explore options that could make it a viable long-term product for the airline. Jamie Cashmore, co-founder of twiice, says the cup will not crumble like a biscuit, and will “stay crisp at least as long as it takes to drink your coffee, and longer.”
“It’s terrific that Air New Zealand has partnered with us to showcase to its customers and the world that a little bit of Kiwi ingenuity and innovation could have a really positive impact on the environment while at the same time delivering a really cool and tasty customer experience,” Cashmore said.
Air New Zealand also encourage customers to bring their own reusable cups on board aircraft and into its lounges
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