Can Ball Aluminum's Party Cup Take on the Red Solo? - Core77.com

The ubiquitous red Solo cup, that staple of backyard barbecues and college keg parties, now has an aluminum challenger.

Ball Aluminum is betting that their single-use (or single-event) cup will win customers over because it's sturdier, delivers "superior cold drinks" with a "cold-touch experience," and is better for the environment: "Unlike plastic, aluminum recycles over and over without losing quality."

I think that the aluminum cups look cooler, but I'm skeptical about uptake, at least in America; a 30-pack runs $20, about 67 cents a cup; spending five bucks more will get you 300 Solo cups, which come in at 8 cents a pop. Call me crazy, but I don't think the average American is willing to pay an 800% premium because something is better for the environment.

If you have a project from last year that you’re proud of then take a few minutes to send it in to the 2022 Core77 Design Awards. We have 18 categories of practice, and for this year we have a special Sustainability Prize for any projects that have a beneficial environmental impact. Check out designawards.core77.com for details and schedules.

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Rain Noe

I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.

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