Eco-minded boba tea enthusiasts nationwide are now able to enjoy their favorite beverage without using a straw that harms the environment. WinCup, Inc., the manufacturer of phade, the world’s first marine biodegradable, home and industrial compostable Caribbean blue drinking straw, has released a new bubble tea-sized straw for boba, smoothie and milkshake drinkers. The boba straw’s wider size is more suitable for thicker liquids while incorporating phade’s superior sustainable technology.

Made with PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a meaningful new biopolymer derived from the fermentation of canola oil, phade straws maintain the feel and user experience of traditional plastic straws but will safely biodegrade and return to nature quickly. phade’s new boba straw is now available across the country, with Yankee Stadium among the first sporting venues to offer it for milkshakes.

“WinCup is eager to expand phade’s PHA technology to reach as many customers as possible, and as a result, have a meaningful positive impact on the environment by replacing harmful petroleum-based plastics,” said Michael Winters, WinCup President and Chief Revenue Officer. “We are reaching a whole new consumer demographic with our phade boba straw, and like other phade products, users don’t have to sacrifice function and experience for being environmentally responsible.”

Boba tea, also commonly referred to as bubble tea or simply “boba,” has been gaining popularity as a refreshing treat in the US since the 1990s. The drink, first popularized by East Asian immigrants in North America, is often marketed at eateries in a wide variety of flavors. One of its most defining characteristics is the handful of tapioca pearls that adorn the tea at the bottom, adding a gelatin-like texture to the creamy drink, hence the need for a thicker straw. Until now, consumers had very few sustainable options for boba and other thicker beverage products, like milkshakes and smoothies.

“phade’s expansion into the boba market is a great example of the many possibilities for our PHA technology,” said Brad Laporte, WinCup’s Chief Executive Officer, “Making phade available for something like boba not only gives customers a new sustainable option, but it exposes them to the future of new sustainable technologies designed to replace petroleum-based plastics. The boba straw is a meaningful step in the growth of the phade brand, and we’re just getting started.”  

The development of phade involved a rigorous testing and certification process. TÜV AUSTRIA, a globally recognized independent third-party certifying body, certified phade® as both industrial and home compostable in a matter of months. TÜV also certified the material from which the phade straw is made as marine biodegradable. Additionally, the Biodegradable Products Institute Inc. (BPI) has certified phade as industrial compostable.

WinCup, a leader in foodservice products manufacturing, has won numerous awards for the development of phade, including the 2020 Innovation in Biopolymer Award from the Plastics Industry Association, and the 2021 Innovation in Foodservice Award for Sustainability Solutions from the National Restaurant Association. phade was also recognized as a finalist or honorable mention in 4 out of 5 categories in Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards.

WinCup’s focus on sustainable solutions was bolstered in September 2020 when Los Angeles-based global private investment firm Atar Capital acquired the company. Among Atar’s core principles is a commitment to sustainability and investing in companies that work toward protecting the environment.

About WinCup, Inc.
WinCup, Inc. is headquartered in Stone Mountain, Georgia. WinCup is a leading manufacturer of traditional and sustainable disposable cups, bowls, containers, lids, and straws. The company's eight manufacturing locations are committed to high-quality products and superior customer service. To learn more, please visit www.wincup.com and www.phadeproducts.com.

Contact
Philip McGowan
philip.mcgowan@finnpartners.com
+1 615 610 0316

 

Source:globenewswire.com

 

 

 

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