26 May 2015 Spotlight on G-Kup
In this week’s spotlight, we are highlighting a company that will change the way the world consumes single serve coffee. G-Kup Technology Corp. is ready to disrupt the massively wasteful single-serve coffee pod market by providing sustainable and convenient coffee pods, all while still maintaining flavour and boldness of coffee in the pods. Read on to learn more what life is like at G-KUP…
1. Describe your company and your primary product(s) and/or service(s).
G-KUP™ Coffee is a Vancouver based company passionate about eliminating the world of wasteful packaging practices. The G-KUP™ is the first Keurig compatible single serve pod that is made of readily renewable materials making it 100% compostable. The innovative use of readily renewable materials combined with a dynamic design maintains the taste and integrity of the coffee. G-KUP™ Coffee provides a rich, great tasting, fully compostable product that will satisfy the consumer’s desire to brew a single-serve hot beverage in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
2. Describe the culture at your company.
G-KUP has a very driven, open and fun culture. We work hard to get things done and have a lot of fun and laughs while doing it. We embrace collaboration among team members, provide constructive feedback where required and help each other develop professionally and personally. We take our work seriously but still crack jokes when things get tense. We believe in the power of learning, integrity, and being nimble. In the end, everyone shares the same goal of the success of G-KUP.
3. Describe your most recent achievement, milestone, reason for bragging rights.
This year was when G-KUP received the patent for the world’s first 100% compostable single serve ingredient package – meaning for example a 100% compostable replacement for the K-Cup. Since then we’ve had some interviews with Business in Vancouver, Shaw TV, Cantech Newsletter and most recently CTV. We’ve been very surprised by the overwhelming response from the public on this issue which only reinforces the need for a solution to the waste of K-Cups. This is also because products currently available on the market simply don’t make the cut. For example a 97% biodegradable k-cup is almost no different from a fully plastic k-cup because virtually no commercial composters will take anything less than a 100% organic and compostable product.
4. What is your company goal for the coming year?
G-KUP is working with some great minds at the University of British Columbia including the Composites Research Network to develop innovative technologies for commercializing its product. G-KUP is about to embark on a full scale study, in collaboration with a professor at UBC, on the compostablity of G-KUP in a variety of common biodegradation environments. G-KUP hopes to bring its 100% compostable coffee experience to the public either near the end of 2015 or early 2016 so people can continue to enjoy the convenience and taste of single serve without generating mountains of waste.
To learn more about G-Kup Technology Corp., visit them online at gkupcoffee.com
If you’d like us to shine the spotlight on your company, email hello@wearebctech.com today!