Swedish company develops bio-based beverage cup lid

23-Nov-2021 - Last updated on 23-Nov-2021 at 11:16 GMT

More than 300bn lids are produced globally each year. Pic: UniCup Scandinavia

In response to potential EU legislation, Swedish company UniCup Scandinavia AB has created a new bio-based lid made of spruce and pine. The Liplid is placed inside, rather than on, the cup, and the company said this improves the stability and drinking experience of on-the-go beverages.

UniCup Scandinavia founders Lars Bendix and Håkan Löfholm have been developing products for on-the-go food and beverages for more than 20 years.

They said current lids are difficult to put on properly, with spills a common issue, and some designs are both difficult to drink through and there can be problems cooling the beverage. The plastic lids are also a major environmental problem. More than 300bn lids are produced globally each year, and many of these end up in nature.

“We have developed an environmentally friendly lid that sits inside the cup. This improves the cup’s stability and the overall drinking experience,” the company said.

“You drink from the rim of the cup instead of the lid, so you don’t burn yourself and it doesn’t taste like plastic or paper. The coffee tastes just like it does in your coffee cup at home.”

The lid is eco-friendly, 100% recyclable and functional. It is made from bio-based fiber material from Swedish raw materials: spruce and pine. Manufactured through a dry molded fiber process, the lid is also stable and sustainable, the company said. Due to its design, 25% less material is required for production.

“We are already seeing that there’s a large market for Liplid. We are in contact with major chains that are very interested in purchasing the lid,” said Jesper Berthold, CEO of UniCup Scandinavia AB.

Liplid, which will be manufactured in Sweden, was developed by UniCup Scandinavia in collaboration with the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE).