The plastic-free and recyclable hot beverage lids will be available in all Tim Hortons restaurants across Prince Edward Island for up to 12 weeks. Credit: CNW Group/Tim Hortons.

Canadian coffeehouse and restaurant chain Tim Hortons is embarking on a 12-week trial of plastic-free, recyclable lids for its hot beverage products.

The trial seeks to develop guest-friendly alternatives to plastic lids that are easier to compost or recycle, as part of the company’s five-year goal to improve its packaging.

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In 2023 Tim Hortons transitioned several packaging items to help reduce the use of single-use plastics, including introducing wooden and fibre cutlery and replacing plastic lids on its Loaded Bowls with fibre lids.

The latest test uses an improved version of a fibre lid that was trialled in select Tim Hortons restaurants across Vancouver in early 2023 and reportedly helped cut down the use of more than 3.3m plastic lids.

In 2022, the company partnered with non-profit organisation Return-It to pilot a reusable and returnable cup scheme in Vancouver.

Tim Hortons senior director of procurement sustainability and packaging Paul Yang commented: “We’ve worked hard on developing a fibre lid that feels like our current lids but is plastic-free. We’re excited to have our guests in Prince Edward Island join us in this test.”

Island Waste Management Corporation disposal manager Heather Myers encourages residents to participate in the trial by “placing the lids in their recycling blue bag. If a lid becomes exceedingly soiled from cup contents, it can be composted.”