The European rigid division (www.coverisrigid.com) of US flexible packaging giant Coveris (Chicago, Illinois; www.coveris.com) has recently launched a foamed plastic drinking cup for the consumer food service business sector.

The company says its “Insulation DuoSmart” combines the functionality of plastic with the attractive appearance of paper and allows customers to distinguish their product while ensuring consumers can enjoy a hot beverage safely. To date, the cup is being manufactured only at Coveris' plant in Siemianowice / Poland.

The foamed plastic inner cup has several benefits over other packaging materials as it is light, stiff and shows high thermal resistance. According to Coveris, the cups can be filled with boiling water as the drinks cool down to a safe level of 85 °C very quickly. In addition, the expanded polystyrene does not affect the taste and aroma of the packaged products. The company also said the product is not toxic and causes no allergic reactions.

The cardboard used to produce the cup is made from renewable resources and can be easily removed by consumers when sorting recyclable materials. A zipper option allows for the separation of the inner cup and outer banderole for different waste streams.

Perhaps the greatest benefit to food service customers is the ability to support brand recognition through a number of branding and promotion opportunities. Coveris France and Poland have also developed an EPS ingredient cup based on the DuoSmart cup concept, with exclusivity rights for French beverage specialist Audis France (Martin-Église; www.audis.fr) for its teas, coffees and soups.