When you next enjoy a pre-flight coffee in the Cairns Airport T2 (Domestic) Departures Lounge chances are it will be served in a compostable coffee cup.
In a first for the airport, catering provider HMS Host is introducing BioCups coffee cups at several of its outlets.
This sustainability measure is enhanced by the beautiful locally inspired artwork displayed on the BioCups and the fact that the cup supplier donates 1% of all profits made on the product to Rainforest Rescue.
The artwork featured on the cups was created by Eastern Kuku Yalanji woman, Pamela Salt. Each image tells the story of the rainforest and reef of her people’s country in the Mossman Gorge area.
Cairns Airport Chief Commercial Officer, Retail, Transport & Property, Tracey Groves, congratulated HMS Host on introducing the compostable BioCups in their outlets.
“This is a great initiative by Host to make a change that will have a positive impact on our environment,” Ms Groves said.
The paper used to make the BioCups cups and lids is sourced from managed plantations, coated with a bioplastic made from plants not oil and printed with soy or water based inks.
“Once it was confirmed by Cairns Regional Council that the BioCups were compostable through their system we were keen to provide whatever support we could to make this happen.”
“We also encourage the use of re-usable coffee cups and are exploring initiatives to reduce plastic straw use at the airport.”
Ms Groves is pleased this initiative also supports the work of Rainforest Rescue.
Rainforest Rescue undertakes projects to re-establish rainforests through planting, maintenance and restoration programs, as well as purchasing and protecting high conservation value rainforest and preserving its biodiversity.
“Cairns Airport has been a proud supporter of Rainforest Rescue for the past few years and we are pleased the introduction of compostable coffee cups at the airport will also contribute to their valuable environmental work in our region.”
HMS Host Operations Manager in Cairns, Taleala Wilce-Bone, said her company is about helping people “Feel good on the Move”.
“For me personally that means more than just great customer service, and standards,” Ms Wilce-Bone said.
“I feel it is our responsibility as a global company to be setting the standard to reduce the impact we have on the environment, and it brings to mind “Think Global, Act Local”.“
“We are very pleased to be working with our partners at the airport to not only support local by way of suppliers and artists, but also to effect positive meaningful change with regards to our carbon footprint.”