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People have different tastes when it comes to flying but I think that most people would enjoy a nice cup of coffee. If you happen to be flying on Air New Zealand, the coffee comes with a sweet surprise, the cup!

You heard us right, the national carrier for New Zealand is running an experiment. They are using an edible coffee cup to reduce onboard waste.

The airline has been testing other methods of reducing waste, such as using biodegradable cups on planes and in their lounges. More eco-friendly options appear to be on the horizon.

In order to make these edible coffee cups a reality, the airline partnered with Twiice, a family-run New Zealand-based company. They make edible plant-based cups that taste good and help save the earth.

The cups that are being used on Air New Zealand flights are vanilla flavored and they don’t melt with the heat of the coffee.

Niki Chave, the Air New Zealand customer service experience manager told CNN that 8 million cups of coffee are served by the airline every year onboard their planes. So far, those that have tried the Twiice cups are pleasantly surprised.

Air New Zealand is also working in other areas to make their flights more eco-friendly. This includes announcing that salad dressing and condiments would be served in small reusable bowls as of July 2019. Those bowls would remove the need for individual plastic packets.

Photo: CNN / Air New Zealand

The Twiice cups are just one-time cooperation between the two companies but it may open the opportunity for more in the future.

The co-founder of Twiice, Jamie Cashmore says that the firm is working on an expanded line of edible dishes and plates. They may also work for the customers flying on Air New Zealand.

There is no doubt that the world is facing a plastic crisis and it has come to the forefront as a major issue.

This is not only seen in the skies above New Zealand, but it is also even seen in California, where trial size shampoos and toiletries were banned from hotels. It may be a small step, but it’s a step in the right direction.

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