Ads:More Delivered, Less Trucks Needed! Smart Cups’ efficient technology means fewer transportation vehicles needed with greater volume of products delivered. (Photo: Smart Cups)
Smart Cups, a pioneering sustainability-driven technology company behind innovative ingredient printing announced the publication of a new research study in the esteemed journal Resource, Conservation & Recycling. The study, titled “Reducing life cycle material, energy and emissions for liquid consumer products through printing,” conducted by UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and authored by Professor Deepak Rajagopal, has brought to light the remarkable potential of Smart Cups Technology in transforming the consumer-packaged goods industry and contributing to a greener future.
“The technology that Smart Cups has pioneered has the potential to drastically reduce the environmental burden of beverages and several other liquid products through a reduction in total packaging and transportation across the product lifecycle,” said Professor Deepak Rajagopal. “The implications of this research extend beyond the consumer-packaged goods industry. Major companies, including industry giants like Pepsi, Coke, and Proctor and Gamble, could benefit from Smart Cups’ ground-breaking approach to delivering products more sustainably. Embracing this innovation can help such large corporations achieve sustainability goals and become leaders in eco-friendly practices”.
The study focuses on the profound environmental benefits of Smart Cups Technology which enables direct printing of consumer product ingredients onto surfaces, leading to substantial reductions in packaging materials, energy consumption, carbon emissions and overall environmental burdens. The study unveils the far-reaching implications for not just the beverage industry, but also the consumer-packaged goods industry as whole, promising to revolutionise distribution logistics and minimise environmental impact.
Key highlights from the study include:
The study’s findings show that a single Class 6 or 7 beverage truck packed with Smart Cups can accommodate a staggering 21 times more beverage volume than PET bottles and 31 times than glass bottles.
Smart Cups printed on PLA cups, when paired with tap water, result in 20 % less packaging materials than aluminum, 40 % less than plastic, and an impressive 90 % less than glass-based packaging.
This reduction in packaging translates into a 23 % to 48 % decrease in lifecycle primary energy and a 40 % to 57 % decrease in global warming potential. With biogenic carbon credit for landfilled PLA, the reductions reach an impressive 50 % to 70 %.
Smart Cups Technology is the first of its kind, revolutionising the delivery of liquid consumer products and minimising their environmental impact. This research not only amplifies the positive impact Smart Cups Technology can have on the world but also strengthens the validation of its significant benefits by reshaping the consumer products industry. By eliminating the need for bulky packaging materials, such as PET bottles or glass containers, Smart Cups optimise beverage payload, allowing for substantially higher volumes to be transported within the same truck weight limits. This breakthrough not only enhances logistical efficiency but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation, as fewer trucks are required to transport the same amount of beverage.
The implications of this research extend far beyond the immediate benefits of increased payload capacity. By revolutionizing beverage transportation, Smart Cups are poised to transform the entire industry landscape, introducing a new era of sustainability and efficiency. With the potential to streamline distribution networks and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, Smart Cups offer a visionary solution to the pressing environmental challenges faced by the beverage sector.
The UCLA study underscores the profound impact of Smart Cups on beverage transportation, highlighting the unparalleled payload capacity that this innovative packaging technology provides. As industry leaders and consumers alike seek more sustainable and efficient solutions, Smart Cups stands at the forefront of a transformative movement. The researchers at UCLA are confident that their findings will inspire further exploration and adoption of Smart Cups within the beverage industry, ultimately leading to a greener, more efficient future.
New products in the health and wellness space will be released this year as part of the collaboration
Smart Cups, the sustainability-driven technology company with a mission to provide a mindful path forward for the beverage industry and beyond, announced their multi-year deal with IFF, an industry leader in food, beverage, scent, health and biosciences. Smart Cups will further expand the foundational platform of its Smart Cups TechnologyTM, which is anchored on the printing platform developed through IFF’s acquisition of The Additive Advantage in 2019. The collaboration, led and managed through IFF’s Integrated Solutions group, will enable the creation of several lines of innovative and sustainable consumer products, beginning in the health and wellness space.
“We’re excited to combine IFF’s expansive ingredient portfolio with Smart Cups Technology and Smart Cups’ manufacturing capability under IFF’s new Integrated Solutions group,” said Auroni Majumdar, VP Strategy and Business Development, Integrated Solutions.
“Smart Cups is continually innovating new products, which is why we are excited to collaborate with IFF to access their unparalleled and expansive portfolio of ingredients, which will be used to enhance existing product lines and incorporated into the development process for new products,” said Chris Kanik, Founder and CEO of Smart Cups. “By working with IFF, our applications have the ability to help each company reach their eco-forward goals. Smart Cups Technology allows for a true revolutionary new standard of environmentally conscious products that will usher in a brighter and more sustainable future for everyone.”
In addition to incorporating IFF ingredients into the development process for new products, Smart Cups will also utilise IFF ingredients to enhance their current product line of energy drinks and caffeine-free Refreshers, which are produced by Smart Cups Technology a patented delivery system based on proprietary printing technology which allows the printing of ingredients on any surface. The technology allows Smart Cups to print drink ingredients onto the inside of cups and containers, eliminating the need to ship liquids. The inherent waterless nature of Smart Cups Technology significantly reduces the resources needed to transport products from the manufacturer to the consumer, which can offer a significant reduction of carbon footprint across a multitude of industries.
“IFF has always been at the forefront of innovative technology. By gaining exclusive access to Smart Cups’ manufacturing technology and this collaboration, we will focus on the development of new innovative print products that will help lead the future of sustainability, manufacturing, and enable new product formats for consumer packaged goods,” said Dr. Gregory Yep, Executive Vice President, Chief Global Scientific & Sustainability Officer at IFF. “This collaboration highlights our continuing R&D tech expansion as well as our commitment to sustainability.”
Currently, the collaboration is focused on products within the health and wellness industry. The products, which are currently in development, are expected to be released in 2022.
About Smart Cups Smart Cups is a sustainability-driven technology company with a mission to provide a mindful path forward for the beverage industry and beyond. Having created the world’s first printed beverage, an energy drink, Smart Cups eliminates the need to bottle and ship liquids, which, in turn, significantly reduces our carbon footprint. With the unique ability to print ingredients on any type of surface, Smart Cups’ technology can be easily implemented across a myriad of industries—offering an eco-forward approach. Founded by Chris Kanik, the Southern California-based company is revolutionizing the beverage industry by disrupting the way products are manufactured, packaged, shipped and consumed. Smart Cups aims to give every customer the tools they need to drink healthier, happier, eco-friendly and more conveniently, as well as bringing better beverages to their customers through their revolutionary technology. Most recently, Smart Cups was honored by TIME Magazine, receiving high recognition for their proprietary technology with a Special Mention in TIME’s 2021 Best Inventions.
