The use of disposable cups and other products is on the rise as consumers are prioritizing safety from the coronavirus.
Disposable protective masks, plastic gloves, and plastic cups are being consumed en masse across South Korea and elsewhere in Asia.
In the meantime, a new ‘filaroid’ service that recycles disposable products into photographs is becoming popular.
Disposable cups made from paper, are notorious for hurting the environment due to the laminated substance in the cup’s interior which makes it very difficult to be recycled.
Filaroid replaces plastic photographic papers with an eco-friendly material recycled from paper cups.
Paper disposable cups are usually thrown away without any particular damage, making it easier to recycle their sturdy fibre which can be used in photographic paper.
Downloading a filaroid app on a smartphone allows users to create and edit photos that they want to be printed on the recycled photographic paper.
“We are working on teaming up with a local paper producer to begin mass production of photo paper recycled from paper cups,” said Oh Seung-ho, CEO of Taeoa Corp, a filaroid service provider.
Environmental value and profits raised from the recycled products are shared again with consumers. Filaroid offers free printing services every month to reduce the amount of paper cups incinerated each year.