Lecta (Barcelona, Spain), a leading worldwide developer and supplier of paper-based products, has unveiled EraCup Natural – a totally recyclable, biodegradable and polyethylene-free, paper-based solution for single-use cups. EraCup Natural is the first product in Lecta’s new range of functional papers for nature-friendly packaging “aligned with responsible consumption habits in which each decision matters.” Manufactured under rigorous environmental and food-safety certifications, Lecta’s new paper-based EraCup Natural solution is based on a proprietary process that’s both polyethylene and bio-plastic free. Its unique composition allows the paper to be recycled in standard paper recycling circuits after having been converted and used.
EraCup Natural is a SBB paperboard manufactured with pulp from certified sources, available in substances from 170 g/m2 up to 380 g/m2. It has an uncoated outer face with a smooth, natural finish suitable for high-quality flexography and offset printing. The inside is covered with a sealable aqueous dispersion that guarantees the manufacture of liquid-tight paper cups. In addition, the paper-based solution allows for significant energy savings since the cups require lower sealing temperatures compared to those manufactured with current polyethylene materials. These properties make the cups ideal for hot and cold beverages as well as on-the-go disposable containers.
“Our technology center and our innovation team, along with the specialized technicians at our mills, have worked on the development of new functional and environment-friendly papers,” said Santiago Tesi, Marketing & Innovation Director at Lecta. “Today, after extensive, successful testing in different European markets, we are proud to be able to launch EraCup Natural, an innovative product that offers clear advantages from a sustainability point of view.”
