Products

Reliable Packaging Products You Can Trust

Rectangular Paper/Cardboard Take Away Containers with Clear Lids

Practical, durable and sustainable takeaway containers for hot or cold foods, made from quality paper/cardboard with clear, secure-fitting lids.

Coffee Cups and Lids

Durable and professional-grade coffee cups and lids available in various sizes for cafés, coffee shops, convenience stores, and takeaway businesses.

Cold Paper Cups and Lids

Suitable for cold beverages including juices, soft drinks, smoothies, iced coffees, and specialty drinks.

Clear Cans and Seal Top Machines

Modern beverage packaging solutions paired with sealing machines for a premium presentation and secure transport.

PET Clear Cups and Lids

High-clarity cups and matching lids ideal for cold drinks, desserts, and food service applications.

Grease Proof Paper

Available in a variety of sizes and shapes for wrapping burgers, sandwiches, pastries, baked goods, and takeaway meals.

Paper Straws

Reliable paper straws suitable for cafés, restaurants, events, and food service businesses.

Pizza Boxes

Strong and dependable pizza boxes available in a range of sizes to suit takeaway and delivery operations.

Staff Aprons

Professional aprons designed for hospitality staff, kitchens, cafés, food preparation areas, and service teams.

Shopping Bags

A comprehensive range of shopping bags suitable for retail stores, takeaway businesses, and commercial use.

Shrink Wrap

Packaging and protection solutions designed for product storage, transportation, and presentation.

Vacuum Food Storage Bags

Food-grade vacuum storage bags that help preserve freshness, maintain quality, and extend shelf life.

Information

PLA vs PE vs Aqueous Coffee Cups: Recycle vs Compost

When choosing takeaway coffee cups, it is important to understand the difference between recyclable and compostable packaging.

PE-Lined Coffee Cups - Recycling

Traditional takeaway coffee cups are generally lined with polyethylene (PE) plastic. The paper and plastic layers make them unsuitable for most standard household recycling systems. However, where specialised coffee-cup recycling services are available, PE-lined cups can be collected and processed for recycling. [1]

End-of-life pathway:

PE-lined cup → Specialised collection → Recycling → Recovered materials

If placed in general waste, the cup will generally end up in landfill. [1]

PLA-Lined Coffee Cups - Commercial Composting

PLA (polylactic acid) is a type of plastic that can be used instead of PE as the lining of a takeaway coffee cup. When appropriately certified to AS 4736, PLA can be commercially compostable under suitable conditions. [2][3]

Potential recovery pathway:

PLA-lined cup → Separate collection → Commercial composting → Compost

However, compostable does not mean automatically composted. The cup must reach a suitable commercial composting facility that accepts the product. Australian Government research has identified limited collection and processing infrastructure as a significant barrier to compostable packaging recovery. [2][4]

Where appropriately certified and accepted, aqueous-coated cups may also be suitable for commercial composting. However, certification does not mean the cup will automatically be composted; the appropriate recovery pathway must actually be available and used. [5]

Aqueous-coated cup → Home composting → Compost

Potential recovery pathway:

Aqueous-coated coffee cups use a water-based barrier coating rather than a conventional PE plastic lining or PLA plastic lining. When the complete finished cup is appropriately certified to AS 5810, it can be designed for home composting under suitable conditions. [5]

Aqueous-Coated Coffee Cups - Home Composting

Recycle vs Compost

Lining

PE-Lined Cup: PE plastic
PLA-Lined Cup: PLA plastic
Aqueous-Coated Cup: Water-based coating

Potential recovery

PE-Lined Cup: Recycling
PLA-Lined Cup: Commercial composting
Aqueous-Coated Cup: Home composting

Standard household recycling

PE-Lined Cup: Generally not accepted
PLA-Lined Cup: Generally not accepted
Aqueous-Coated Cup: Depends on local recycling system

Specialised collection required

PE-Lined Cup: Yes
PLA-Lined Cup: Yes
Aqueous-Coated Cup: Not necessarily

Compostable

PE-Lined Cup: No
PLA-Lined Cup: Yes, when certified
Aqueous-Coated Cup: Yes, when AS 5810 certified

If placed in general waste

PE-Lined Cup: Landfill
PLA-Lined Cup: Landfill
Aqueous-Coated Cup: Landfill

The Bottom Line

Recyclable and compostable are different end-of-life solutions.

A PE-lined cup can potentially be recycled through an appropriate specialised recycling system.

A certified PLA-lined cup can potentially be commercially composted where suitable collection and composting infrastructure exists. [1][2][3]

The environmental outcome depends on what happens to the cup after it is used. A cup labelled recyclable or compostable only achieves its intended benefit when it reaches the appropriate recovery system.

[5] Australasian Bioplastics Association — Home Compostable Verification Programme.

The ABA describes AS 5810 home-compostability verification for products designed to break down under suitable home composting conditions.

References

[1] NSW Environment Protection Authority — Coffee Cups

The NSW EPA explains that disposable coffee cups generally contain a polymer lining, that conventional cups cannot be placed in standard yellow-bin recycling, and that specialised collection systems can recover some disposable coffee cups. NSW EPA — Reducing Coffee Cups

[2] Australian Government — Australian Plastics Flows and Fates Study

The Australian Government distinguishes commercially compostable plastics certified to AS 4736 from home-compostable plastics certified to AS 5810, and identifies PLA among the main polymers used in certified compostable products. Australian Government — Australian Plastics Flows and Fates Study

[3] Australasian Bioplastics Association — Commercial Compostable Verification Programme

The ABA administers verification against AS 4736 for commercially compostable plastics and explains the certification requirements. Australasian Bioplastics Association — AS 4736 Commercial Compostable Verification

[4] Australian Government — Review of Regulations and Standards for Recycled Organics

The Australian Government notes that compostable coffee cups can be processed through appropriate organic-recycling systems, but also reports that most compostable catering products have historically gone to landfill and very little has reached composting facilities. Australian Government — Recycled Organics in Australia