Starbucks’ polypropylene cold beverage cups have been designated “widely recyclable”, enabling many consumers in the United States to recycle them more easily through curbside and drop-off programmes.
The update reflects a broader industry push to expand recycling infrastructure and improve packaging sustainability in the foodservice sector.
The new status means cold cups made from polypropylene material now meet criteria for broad recycling access, a key indicator used by recycling labelling programmes and waste managers.
Organisations across the recycling value chain collaborated to achieve this milestone, which may influence similar efforts in other markets.
Widely recyclable designation expands curbside access
Polypropylene cups commonly used for cold drinks have earned the Widely Recyclable classification from the How2Recycle programme. This label is awarded when at least 60 per cent of households in a given region have access to recycling systems that accept the material.
According to the announcement, more than 60 per cent of U.S. households can now recycle these cold cups through local kerbside or community drop-off schemes.
Expansion efforts over recent months added access in more than two million additional households, reflecting incremental growth in recycling coverage.
The designation aligns with broader trends in plastic recycling access, helping standardise consumer guidance on disposal and reinforcing collection system improvements needed for effective recovery.
Collaboration across industry and recycling infrastructure
Achieving this status involved coordination between multiple stakeholders. The How2Recycle labelling programme, managed by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition under GreenBlue, applied its criteria to certify the material’s recyclability.
The NextGen Consortium, led by Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy, contributed to design and system innovation efforts. The Recycling Partnership and WM, a major recycling service provider, supported local infrastructure and market development.
Industry coalitions focused on improving sorting, processing capacity and the availability of end markets for recycled polypropylene resin.
These efforts aim to enhance the overall performance of polypropylene recycling, which historically lags behind more commonly recycled plastics such as PET and HDPE.
Implications for packaging sustainability and circular economy
For packaging and waste management professionals, the update underscores the importance of recycling label standards and cross-sector cooperation. Increasing access to recycling for polypropylene cups may help reduce the volume sent to landfill and boost recovery rates for this material type.
While reaching the 60 per cent access threshold is a notable milestone, stakeholders emphasise that it does not represent full nationwide coverage.
Continued engagement with communities, recyclers and packaging designers will be necessary to extend access further and support broader adoption of recyclable packaging formats.
In the wider context of sustainable packaging strategies, efforts like this contribute to global circular economy objectives by improving design for recyclability and encouraging infrastructure investment that supports the reuse of materials across sectors.
