Restaurant chain Tim Hortons has launched a pilot programme in select restaurants in Ottawa and Gatineau, Canada, to test plastic-free, fibre-based hot beverage lids.  

The six-week trial aims to find a compostable or recyclable alternative to plastic lids without compromising the drinking experience.  

It comes after a successful trial of a fibre lid in Vancouver earlier in 2023, which saw the reduction of more than 3.3 million plastic lids.  

The new fibre lids, claimed to be an improved version of the one tested in Vancouver, are designed to mimic the functionality of traditional plastic lids but are made from plant-based materials.  

This initiative is part of the company’s broader effort to reduce single-use plastics. 

In February this year, Tim Hortons also conducted a similar test in Prince Edward Island in the country. 

The restaurant chain has been on a five-year journey to innovate packaging solutions, which has included the introduction of wooden and fibre cutlery and fibre lids for Loaded Bowls. 

Tim Hortons Procurement, Sustainability and Packaging senior director Paul Yang said: "We're excited to ask Ottawans to help us test this new, plastic-free and recyclable lid for Tim Hortons hot beverage cups. We're known for serving Canada's favourite coffee, so it's important that we develop a best-in-class solution for our guests.  

"We've worked hard on developing a fibre lid that feels like our current lids but is plastic-free. These fibre lids are part of our five-year journey to develop more innovative solutions for all our packaging and we're excited to have our guests in Ottawa join us in this test."