Mackenzie Alderson
The Compost Cup Co.
Partner: Ngā Ara Whetū: Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society

The Compost Cup Co. proposes an innovative ‘lidless’ coffee cup design. The solution aims to care for the Tāmaki Makaurau soil ecosystems and promote soil health for generations to come. The core concern is the negative impact of takeaway food containers, with a particular focus on single-use coffee cups. These cups are often lined with harmful chemicals, which, if not disposed of properly, pose a significant risk of leaching into our precious soils.

One of the main issues we face is the lack of awareness among consumers regarding the appropriate disposal methods for these cups. Consequently, a substantial amount of waste that could otherwise be composted ends up in landfills, failing to fulfill its potential for a sustainable end-of-life cycle.

The Compost Cup Co., the central focus of this project, offers an innovative, circular life cycle solution. The concept revolves around the elimination of the lid and the complete redesign of coffee cups to ensure they are entirely compostable. This lidless design not only simplifies the disposal process but also serves as a catalyst for inspiring a shift towards more sustainable coffee consumption practices. The ultimate goal is to foster an environmentally conscious community of coffee drinkers without significantly changing consumer habits.

Compost Cup Co. concept, we aim to contribute significantly to the preservation of Auckland's soil health, encouraging responsible and eco-friendly coffee consumption. This project represents a step in the right direction, aligning consumer behavior with the broader goal of environmental conservation and the protection of our invaluable soil ecosystems for future generations.

The project is based around four goals:

  1. Creating a design that utilises natural resources
  2. Designs for both humans and a species
  3. For the innovation to have a circular lifecycle system
  4. Reduce the amount of waste going to landfill