f'real and Footprint Announce Partnership to Co-create Plastic-Free Cup
Footprint, a global materials science and technology company that wants to make the world a healthier place, announced a partnership with f'real foods, which sells on-the-go, blend-it-yourself (BIY) shakes and smoothies. Under the partnership, the two companies will use Footprint's fibre-based solutions to create a sustainable replacement for f'real's signature dairy cup.
f'real’s patented in-store blending system, which blends delicious, authentic milkshakes and smoothies at the touch of a button in about a minute, can be found in more than 20,000 locations around the world, including convenience stores, colleges and universities, theatres, and military bases.
As part of its goal to use packaging that is better for the environment, f'real is moving away from single-use plastics and toward packaging that can be recycled and sourced responsibly. In the U.S. specifically, the company aims for 100% of its packaging to meet these criteria by 2025.
Footprint’s team will consider several design factors as they create this molded fibre cup to ensure it works seamlessly with f’real’s current and future equipment – including its powerful mixing technology – while providing an enjoyable drinking experience for consumers.
The cups will also utilise Footprint’s Print-to-Fiber Technology™ – an award-winning flexographic print process for molded fibre cups – to highlight the f’real brand. This new process allows for high-quality, full-colour printing on the surface of the fibre without the need for a separate plastic label.
Footprint Co-Founder and CEO, Troy Swope, said:
"Footprint’s engineers are always up for a challenge and are focused on perfecting the intricate design and engineering of this cup, which we look forward to bringing to market. Working with customers like f’real allows us to highlight the significant science and engineering that goes into Footprint’s solutions while reinforcing our commitment to collaborating with customers to develop a product tailored to their unique needs.”
Nikkie McBrayer, senior director, global equipment platforms for Rich Products, parent company of the f’real brand, said:
"Like many sustainably minded companies, we’re always looking to improve the impact we’re making on the environment, and that includes the packaging of our delicious products. The opportunity to collaborate with Footprint to create a positive change while upholding packaging performance for our f’real milkshake and smoothie cups is truly a win-win.”
This month, Footprint will start a lot of tests to make sure the design of the plastic-free dairy cup meets all design standards.
Source: Footprint
