A new children’s book is breaking new ground in both storytelling and sustainability. Little Coffee Cup and the Big Surprise by first-time author and sustainability advocate Hayley Slack is the world’s first published children’s book printed on paper made entirely from recycled coffee cups. Each copy contains the fibre of 13 cups, thanks to James Cropper’s CupCycling process, which diverts millions of single-use coffee cups from landfill and transforms them into premium-quality paper at the company’s Burneside Mill in Cumbria.

The story follows Little Coffee Cup, a cheerful character who leaves the café behind to explore the world, sparking conversations about reuse and the circular economy in a way that’s accessible for children aged 3 to 7. The project is deeply personal for Slack, who works at UK waste management company Biffa and saw an opportunity to combine her professional mission with a heartfelt narrative. “Books have the power to shape how children see the world,” says Slack. “So why not show them how the world can be—with less waste and more wonder?”

The book’s timing is poignant, following the UK government’s decision to abandon a mandatory takeback scheme for disposable cups, despite evidence that recycling capacity already exists. By spotlighting an innovative use for recycled materials and demonstrating the viability of UK-based circular production, Little Coffee Cup and the Big Surprise delivers a powerful message: sustainability isn’t just a concept, it’s something kids can literally hold in their hands.