In Canada, 1.5 billion coffee cups are discarded each year, illustrating the urgent need for a solution in this country. The Friendlier coffee cup will enable coffee drinkers to enjoy their coffee, and return their cup to be washed, sanitized and reused. When the cup reaches the end of its life, it is recycled into a new coffee cup; closing the loop on the fully circular supply chain.
The union between OMNIA PACKAGING (www.omniapackaging.ca) and FRIENDLIER (www.friendlier.com) was forged following their mutual receipt of Government of Canada funding, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), in February 2023. Inspired by a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, the two organizations embarked on a journey of collaboration and innovation. “Congratulations to Omnia Packaging and a Friendlier Company, who are working together to create sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for Canadians. Their partnership is a testament to the vital role that businesses in southern Ontario play in finding innovative solutions that create more opportunities and grow our economy. Canada looks forward to what the future holds for Omnia Packaging and Friendlier as they will work together to reduce single- use plastics.” said the Honorable Filomena Tassi, Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
The partnership between OMNIA PACKAGING and FRIENDLIER signifies a significant step forward in the reduction of single-use coffee cups. Leveraging Omnia’s expert design for an elevated drinking experience, and Friendlier’s proven reverse logistics solution, the two have created a competitive solution to completely replace single-use coffee cups. “Sunino Group has always been dedicated and passionate about sustainable packaging solutions. We firmly believe that this partnership with FRIENDLIER represents another positive step towards positioning Canada for a greener future,” said Andrea Ceri, COO for Omnia Packaging Inc.
OMNIA PACKAGING, the Canadian arm of the esteemed Italian family owned Sunino Group, operates a state-of-the-art 90,000-square-foot facility in Guelph, Ontario. With over 50 years of expertise in injected molded products, particularly working with polypropylene, OMNIA PACKAGING is dedicated to producing high-quality – 100% recyclable – plastic and paper food packaging solutions.
FRIENDLIER, founded by Jacquie Hutchings and Kayli Dale, is driven by a passion for sustainability and the reduction of plastic waste. The company’s innovative distribution, collection, wash, sanitization, and return system spans across three provinces, encompassing 200 locations. FRIENDLIER is committed to educating businesses and students on the benefits of reusable containers.
“In an era where coffee culture embraces fair trade practices and sustainability, it’s ironic that these brews are still served in archaic single-use coffee cups. We are proud to be revolutionizing this space through our turn-key reusable packaging solution.” Jacquie Hutchings, Co-founder and CRO at Friendlier.
For more information on OMNIA PACKAGING, visit www.omniapackaging.ca.
To learn more about FRIENDLIER, visit www.friendlier.com.
To learn more about FedDev Ontario, visit https://feddev-ontario.canada.ca/en.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Monica Viazzo
Director Business Development & Marketing
Mobile +1 613 882 5565
Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario