Disposable coffee cups with no lids? How is that going to work? The Compleat cup promises to be cheaper as well as easier on the environment. I am one of those daily commuters that counts on sipping a large cup of coffee while driving to work every morning. I depend on a sturdy disposable cup with a tight fitting plastic lid to keep me safe and dry while indulging my early morning brew.

Now, thanks to an epiphany by architect Peter Herman while crumpling an empty paper cup, plastic lids may become a thing of the past. After setting up 94 prototypes for testing, and failing on the first 57, number 58 proved successful. Ingenious folds at the top of the new cup design do away with the ubiquitous plastic lid. Another planet saving idea? Maybe.

Graphic designer Daren Bascome tweaked the design to create panels where companies can put their logo or message. Lacking a lid the coated paper “Compleat” cup may save money and lessen the environmental impact of current cup + lid designs.

The challenge will be to get coffee drinkers like me to accept the fill, fold, drink design. I am usually willing to give innovative new designs a try, but a sippy cup for my morning coffee has me worried. If I squeeze the cup too hard will it unfold? If it tips a little in the cup holder will it survive?  

Hmmm, maybe I’ll telecommute and miss the coffee drink and drive experience altogether.