How Simply Cups Calculates Carbon Emissions and Avoided Emissions

Overview

The Simply Cups impact reporting portal has been designed to provide transparent, evidence-based reporting on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the collection and recycling of single-use cups through the Simply Cups program.

This methodology explains how emissions are calculated, the assumptions that underpin the model, and the boundaries used within the assessment. The intention is to provide customers, collectors, and product custodians with a clear understanding of how reported carbon outcomes are derived.

The calculator and methodology were developed to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts associated with recycling cups through the Simply Cups program compared with a conventional landfill disposal pathway.

The methodology has been informed by:

Australian waste and recycling infrastructure
Operational collection data from the Simply Cups program
Life cycle assessment principles
Emissions factors sourced from recognised databases
Guidance prepared in consultation with Pangolin Associates

What the Assessment Measures

The assessment compares two scenarios:

Baseline scenario: cups disposed of to landfill
Simply Cups scenario: cups collected and transported through the Simply Cups recycling system

The reporting quantifies:

Emissions associated with transport and end-of-life processing
Emissions avoided through recycling instead of landfill disposal
Recycling outcomes attributable to participation in the Simply Cups program

Depending on the customer type, the reporting may be generated from either:

A collector perspective
A product custodian perspective

Scope and System Boundary

Included in the Assessment

The assessment includes:

Collection transport
Transport to depots and recycling facilities
Transport to landfill facilities
Recycling processing
Landfill disposal impacts
End-of-life greenhouse gas emissions

Excluded from the Assessment

The following stages are excluded from the assessment:

Raw material extraction
Cup manufacturing
Product use phase

These stages are excluded because they are assumed to be equivalent between the landfill and recycling scenarios and therefore do not materially affect the comparative outcome.

The system boundary ends once the material reaches:

A recycling facility
A landfill
An energy recovery facility
A state where the material becomes suitable for reuse or recovery

This approach aligns with the polluter-pays principle commonly used in life cycle assessment methodologies.

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Data Sources and Emissions Factors

The emissions calculations use emissions factors sourced from:

Ecoinvent
AusLCI / AusLCA databases

These datasets were accessed and modelled using SimaPro software and the IPCC 2021 GWP100 V1.03 methodology.

This means all greenhouse gas outcomes are reported as carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO₂-e) using a 100-year global warming potential framework.

Transport Assumptions

Transport emissions represent a significant component of the end-of-life assessment. Several assumptions are used to ensure consistent reporting across the national program.

Transport to Landfill

For the landfill scenario, an average one-way transport distance of 60 km to landfill has been assumed.

This distance reflects a midpoint estimate for Australian metropolitan waste transport systems, taking into account:

The use of transfer stations
The location of landfill facilities on city fringes
Typical waste transport logistics in Australian capital cities

Collection and Transport Through Simply Cups

Simply Cups collection emissions are based on operational reporting data provided through ELoop collections.

Collection distances are calculated using:

Total kilometres travelled during collection runs
Number of cups collected per run
Total cups collected during the reporting period

Where a full year of operational data is not available, a minimum of three months of actual collection data is used and assumed to be representative of annual operations.

After collection:

Cups are transported to a state depot
In Victoria and New South Wales, depots are co-located with recycling facilities
In other states, an additional transport leg is included to move material from the depot to the nearest recycling facility

Recycling Rate Methodology

Product Custodian Reporting

For product custodians participating in the Simply Cups product stewardship scheme, the recycling rate is calculated using:

Total cups collected for recycling through the program ÷ Total cups placed on the market under the scheme

Based on current program performance, the methodology assumes an approximate recycling rate of 10%.

It is important to note that cups collected through the program are not necessarily the exact cups placed on the market by participating product custodians.

Because collection points are shared across Australia, cups entering the system may originate from multiple brands and organisations.

The recycling outcomes are therefore allocated proportionally based on participation in the stewardship scheme and the number of cups placed on the market.

This reflects the fact that product custodians financially support the operation of the program through stewardship contributions that fund:

Collection infrastructure
Transport
Sorting
Recycling activities

Accordingly, the methodology represents a responsibility-based allocation model rather than a one-to-one physical tracking system.

Collector Reporting

For collectors participating in the Simply Cups program, the recycling rate is assumed to be 100%.

This assumption is based on a physical material flow approach, where all cups accepted into the Simply Cups collection system are transported to recycling facilities with the intention of being recycled.

Cup Composition Assumptions

Cup composition is used to model end-of-life emissions and recycling impacts.

The average cup composition has been developed using data from Closed Loop cup audits.

The methodology assumes:

The cup body is predominantly paper fibre
The plastic lining represents approximately 0.075% of total cup weight
The lining material is PLA

Lid Assumptions

Lids are currently collected primarily through participating 7-Eleven locations.

Based on operational data:

Approximately 8% of collected cups include lids
A weighted average lid weight has been applied
Individual lids are assumed to weigh approximately 3 grams
Lids are assumed to be made from PLA

These assumptions are used to estimate the average material composition entering the recycling stream.

Allocation Approach

The methodology uses different allocation approaches depending on the reporting context.

Physical Flow Allocation

Used for collector reporting.

This approach tracks the actual material entering the Simply Cups collection and recycling network.

Responsibility-Based Allocation

Used for product custodian reporting.

his approach allocates recycling outcomes proportionally based on stewardship participation and financial contribution to the scheme.

This distinction is important because the Simply Cups program operates as a national shared collection network rather than a closed-loop system tied to individual brands.

Methodology Limitations

Like all carbon accounting methodologies, the Simply Cups methodology relies on a combination of measured operational data and industry assumptions.

Some limitations include:

Transport distances may vary by location and collection route
Recycling infrastructure differs between states
Collection data may be extrapolated from partial-year operational reporting
Individual cup tracking is not performed
Cup composition varies across manufacturers and products

The methodology is periodically reviewed and may be updated as additional operational data becomes available or as recycling infrastructure evolves.

Continuous Improvement

Simply Cups is committed to improving the quality and transparency of environmental reporting over time.

As the national collection network expands and more operational data becomes available, the methodology will continue to be refined to improve:

Accuracy
Geographic specificity
Material composition modelling
Transport modelling
Recycling outcome reporting

The objective is to provide customers and partners with credible, transparent, and practical reporting that reflects real-world program operations.

Important Disclaimer

The greenhouse gas emissions and avoided emissions reported through the Simply Cups portal are estimates derived using operational data, industry-standard emissions factors, and documented assumptions.

Reported outcomes are intended to provide indicative environmental reporting and comparative insights into recycling performance. They should not be interpreted as audited carbon inventories or formal carbon neutrality claims unless independently verified.

Methodologies and assumptions may be updated periodically as additional data becomes available or industry guidance evolves.