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This is a hands-free lid that opens by lightly pressing the drinking spout with the upper lip. It allows people to drink by simply tilting the cup, making it relatively easy to use even for seniors or those with limited hand or finger mobility.
Once the lips are removed, the lid automatically closes to prevent dust, insects, or leaks caused by movement or vibration.
When the drinking spout is pressed, the slit near the nose (aroma vent) opens, allowing the aroma to be enjoyed while drinking.
Compared to conventional lids with straw (calculated as flat lid + resin straw total*1), this lid reduces resin usage by approximately 20%, resulting in a similar reduction of 20% in GHG emissions from resin production*2.
*1 Compared by weight with Toyo Seikan’s lids and straws of the same diameter
*2 GHG emissions estimated from resin raw material manufacturing
Tokan Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Technology Development Division
Katsuhiko Soma
We received a request from a customer (a convenience store) to reduce the amount of resin used in beverage cup lids. As part of their environmental initiatives, they had been working to gradually decrease plastic usage.
However, there were limits to how much we could reduce plastic while maintaining the lid’s original shape. Therefore, we decided to develop an entirely new lid to ensure quality.
Additionally, we received a further request to add a feature that allows customers to enjoy the aroma of coffee while drinking, which became the starting point of the development process.
During manufacturing, the drinking spout and aroma window are cut using a blade. One major challenge was adjusting the process so that even during mass production, the cuts would remain precise and consistent. We had to ensure the lid could be gently opened with the lips and would close again once the lips were removed. Through extensive testing during production trials, we finely tuned factors such as blade hardness, cutting angles, backing plate firmness, and the thickness of the connecting seams. Thanks to these efforts, we’ve been able to maintain product quality since its market release in 2023 and continue stable mass production into 2024.
We’ve received a lot of positive feedback, such as:
“It’s easy to drink from.” “You can really enjoy the aroma.” “It’s lighter.” “Blocking (where lids get stuck together when stacked) has improved.”
Generally, the thinner a lid is, the more prone it becomes to blocking. However, this product solves that by incorporating small, randomly placed dimples that slightly misalign the lids when stacked, reducing the chances of them getting stuck—all without compromising the appearance.
I think this is a brilliant example of a completely new solution. What’s more, it adds value for consumers by incorporating an aroma window so they can enjoy the scent of their drink. Since this is a new way of drinking, the key will be how effectively the method is introduced and communicated to users.
