AUSTRALIA. HMSHost is introducing compostable coffee cups at Cairns Airport in a sustainability initiative.
The ‘BioCups’ will be available at several HMSHost outlets in the T2 (domestic) departures lounge and will feature locally-inspired artwork.
HMSHost and the airport said 1% of all profits made on the product will be donated to Rainforest Rescue, a non-profit organisation that undertakes projects to re-establish rainforests through planting, maintenance and restoration programmes. It also purchases and protects high conservation value rainforest and preserves its biodiversity.
The artwork featured on the cups was created by indigenous Eastern Kuku Yalanji woman, Pamela Salt. Each image tells the story of the rainforest and reef of her people’s country in the Mossman Gorge area.
The paper used to make the BioCups cups and lids is sourced from managed plantations, coated with a bioplastic made from plants not oil and printed with soy- or water-based inks.
Cairns Airport Chief Commercial Officer Retail, Transport & Property Tracey Groves congratulated HMSHost on “a great initiative” that will “make a change that will have a positive impact on our environment”.
She said: “Once it was confirmed by Cairns Regional Council that the BioCups were compostable through their system we were keen to provide whatever support we could to make this happen.
“We also encourage the use of re-usable coffee cups and are exploring initiatives to reduce plastic straw use at the airport.”
Groves also noted that Cairns Airport has supported Rainforest Rescue for the past few years. “We are pleased the introduction of compostable coffee cups at the airport will also contribute to their valuable environmental work in our region,” she said.
HMSHost Operations Manager in Cairns Taleala Wilce-Bone commented: “For me personally [HMSHost slogan] feeling good on the move means more than just great customer service, and standards.
“I feel it is our responsibility as a global company to be setting the standard to reduce the impact we have on the environment.
“We are very pleased to be working with our partners at the airport to not only support local by way of suppliers and artists, but also to effect positive meaningful change with regards to our carbon footprint.”
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