BUCKY AIR:
With a reduction in material usage our complete cup uses 8 grams of material compared to a current coffee cup which uses a mixture of paper (cup), polystyrene (lid) and cardboard (sleeve) for a total weight of 20.45 grams. Our goal was to make a non-usable cup with the least amount of raw materials.

THE CONCEPT:
Bucky Air is an 8 gram inflatable coffee cup with a food grade inner bladder. The cup is made from a single material so it can be recycled as one item.  The design can be used for cold and hot drinks which will have An extra benefit of keeping your drink colder or hotter longer. Bucky Air cups are dispensed from a filling station that inflates, pressure tests and heat seals each cup. The Barista just pulls a cup from the station and a new one is filled with air. The air chamber of the cup provides structure and heat insulation.

HOW TO RECYCLE:
When you are finished with your drink you place the cup into specially marked recycle bins in the store. These bins have sealable lids so they can be shipped to collection centers within 250 miles of the store. The bins have wheels and do not require anything for Starbucks employees to do but close the lid and place the bin in the loading dock area for shipping; the bins are pre-labeled with the shipping address.

FOR CAUSE RECYCLING:
Printed on the cup is what the cup will become next. For example: Water Jugs in Africa, Plastic lumber to build a bridge in Nepal. The consumer is paying for the raw material to build a product.

If the consumer does not return the cup to the store then it is recycled as plastic material. People will be motivated to bring the used cup back to the store for recycling to support the “for cause recycling”.