Every day, Australians use nearly 2.7 million disposable coffee cups, many of which end up in landfill after just one use. While recycling is often presented as the answer, the reality is much more complicated. Most takeaway cups contain plastic linings that make them difficult to recycle through standard systems, while many compostable alternatives still rely on specialised infrastructure that is not always available.

Governments across Australia have begun banning single-use plastics, creating an urgent need for practical alternatives that genuinely reduce waste rather than simply managing it differently.