ITALY – Qwarzo, an Italian company specializing in next-generation materials, has expanded its footprint across Europe with global brands such as Starbucks and Lavazza adopting its silica-based coating technology for packaging applications.
Developed over two decades of research and development, Qwarzo’s patented mineral-based coating provides a protective barrier against water, grease, oxygen, and heat.
According to the company, the coating preserves the integrity of containers and protects the flavor of beverages without using plastic, intentionally added microplastics, or PFAS.
In May 2025, Starbucks launched its new hot cup and lid featuring Qwarzo’s coating. The new takeaway solution was developed in collaboration with Transcend Packaging and Metsä Board, alongside Qwarzo.
The cup replaces traditional internal plastic liners and single-use plastic lids. Made from cellulose fibers sourced from Northern Europe, the lid incorporates Qwarzo’s coating on pulp fiber to maintain structural integrity with hot liquids.
Starbucks stated that the cups are now available in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary, with plans to expand to the United Kingdom and Ireland by late 2025.
Qwarzo reported that its technology is currently used in over a billion items, including ice cream spoons, coffee stirrers, cups, plates, and cutlery.
Products coated with Qwarzo are home-compostable, recyclable as paper, and do not require plastic separation during recycling, addressing a longstanding challenge in cup disposal systems.
In Spain, Lavazza has adopted Qwarzo-coated cups for its public coffee vending machines through a partnership with Flo Group. Flo Group is also producing and distributing Qwarzo-coated cups in Germany with a well-known local coffee brand.
Other adopters of Qwarzo’s technology include Grom, the Italian gelato brand owned by Unilever, which uses Qwarzo-coated paper spoons, and Venchi, an Italian chocolate and ice cream company, which has purchased Qwarzo-coated cutlery.
Qwarzo’s mineral-based coating technology has received certification for home compostability from DIN CERTCO and is recyclable as paper. The products are exempt from the European Union Single-Use Plastics Directive.
The company stated that its coatings enhance FSC and PEFC-certified paper with barrier properties while preventing chemical migration.
In recognition of its innovation in sustainable materials, Qwarzo received the Sustainability Leaders 2025 title awarded by Il Corriere della Sera and Statista.
Other honors include the Semi Innovation Award, Tocco Future Materials Award, SIGEP Innovation Award for its plastic-free barrier ice cream cup, and Zero Waste Product of the Year for its paper hook designed for agricultural use.
Based in Brescia, Italy, Qwarzo continues to expand its applications in paper, textiles, and metal coatings for food and beverage packaging across European markets.