BMI Healthcare replaces plastic with future-friendly coffee cups
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 29th October 2018
BMI Healthcare, the UK’s largest network of private hospitals, is ending the use of plastic and non-recyclable cups in each of its 58 hospitals and clinics across England, Wales and Scotland.
Altogether, the hospital group uses around 4 million single-use disposable coffee/tea cups and a further 1.2 million water cups, each year. By the end of November 2018, patients and visitors will instead be offered recyclable paper water cups and compostable paper coffee cups, which break down within 30 days after use, leaving no adverse effects on the environment.
Jason Hession, Head of Hotel Services for BMI Healthcare, said: “Our previous tea and coffee cups were either Styrofoam or double-walled plastic-lined cups, while our water cups were plastic. None of these break down properly in the environment and we at BMI Healthcare share concerns over the effects of plastic on our wildlife, our oceans and in the food that we eat. By moving to the new recyclable cups, we hope to contribute to the long-term health of our planet and hope we inspire others to do the same. And, of course, we will continue to use, wash and re-use crockery as far as possible.”
The new cups are the latest in a company-wide drive to replace non-essential single-use plastics. BMI Healthcare has already replaced plastic spoons with wooden stirrers, and plastic cutlery with bamboo knives, forks and spoons.
