NEW BERLIN, NY – Chobani announced this week it is taking a big step toward a more sustainable future by launching a paper cup for its yogurt products.
Chobani's paper cup marks a milestone in efforts to reduce plastic use and put more sustainable packaging on shelves across America.
Chobani's new product innovations – oatmilk, cold brew coffee and coffee creamers – already come in paper-based packaging that is recyclable. After two years of development, the company will move its oat yogurt into a paper-based cup. The company said it will continue exploring more sustainable packaging across our portfolio that will use less plastic and more paper.
"We all have a role to play in protecting our planet," said Chobani founder and chief executive officer Hamdi Ulukaya. "People have been asking for a paper cup, and we welcome this challenge to start reducing our plastic use, and to spark a conversation about how we can drive change together."
Chobani's paper cup is 80% paperboard, made from responsibly sourced and renewable material. The cup has a thin plastic lining to maintain the quality of our product.
"While this paper cup is a step in the right direction, it's just the beginning," said Ulukaya.
The cup will be made of recyclable materials, but we're realistic about the complexities of American's recycling system, which is fragmented across more than 10,000 municipal-run recycling centers, each with unique rules.
Innovative packaging often challenges the current recycling capabilities across the US. The company said it will continue collaborating with partners, including the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, and policymakers to advocate for improvements that expand the recycling infrastructure in this country.
Consumers will start to see Chobani's paper cup in the yogurt aisle at the end of this year. It will begin with single-serve Chobani Oat Blend and will continue to invest in sustainable packaging initiatives across its product portfolio.