Mark Gerada is used to seeing his artwork hanging in a gallery or on an easel in his studio. So it’s been a novel experience to see his strokes miniaturised on a paper coffee cup.

“It’s a strange feeling to see people consuming something you’ve had a part in creating,” says Mark, a painter, illustrator and visual communications teacher at the University of Technology Sydney. “People appreciate good art and people appreciate good coffee, so I’m very excited to be involved.”

Mark and five other Australian artists have lent their artistic expertise and passion for the environment in a new range of eco-art themed, sustainable coffee cups: BioCup’s new Art Series range.

BioPak’s Marketing Manager Adrianne Tasker says the idea to create the new art series was fuelled by the chance to combine art with one of the most consistently used products in a café.

“Coffee cups are a great medium for cafés to communicate a particular message to their customers,” says Adrianne. “As part of our mission to raise awareness about the environmental impact of everyday consumption, we decided to attempt to reconnect people with nature and the environment by incorporating environmentally themed artwork.”

Working with curator Kate Armstrong from Okyo, BioPak put the idea into action by printing the six artists’ work onto 8 ounce and 12-ounce size coffee cups. As with all eco-friendly BioPak products, the paper is sourced from managed plantations, the waterproof bioplastic lining is made from a plant-based renewable resource.

The cups are certified carbon neutral, and all carbon emissions associated with the production, distribution and disposal are offset through the purchase of carbon credits. The result is a sustainable packaging solution with the limited environmental impact.

“We try to minimise the environmental impact of our products. A great way to do this with coffee cups is to extend their life beyond the 15 minutes it takes to consume a coffee,” says BioPak Director Richardfine. “Once rinsed out the cups can be reused as a storage container on an office desk to brighten up a workspace.”

Artist Mark created his illustration, titled Sustainability, in 2007, using faber Castell Polychromos. “It’s not a new artwork, but it’s become more and more relevant and timeless as the years go on. In this instance, I focused on sustainability and the implications the building industry has on sustainability across the board,” he says.

The illustration addresses how society uses materials, where they come from, and how they are transported. “Not many people consider the fact that everything we use in our homes comes from somewhere and leaves a footprint. There are not many companies or cup manufacturers thinking about these issues like BioPak,” says Mark.

He points out that there are many processes involved in producing a single cup of coffee, and consumers need to be aware of how their actions can impact the environment.

“So many people spend a few dollars buying coffee each day, and it’s spreading the tentacles of a carbon footprint. for this reason, when people look at the [BioPak] cup, I want them to reflect on their actions and what they can do to minimise waste. I hope people see that it’s not just a pretty texture on a cup. I hope people see the bigger picture,” he says.

From energy consumption to the beauty of nature, Sydney-based textile print designer and fashion student Annie Everingham’s artwork, titled Acacia, takes a different approach to the theme of sustainability.

“My work is centered around the fragility and beauty of nature. I originally designed Acacia as a textile print for a swimwear range using colonial Australia as inspiration,” says Annie.

“I am really inspired by the inherent qualities of beauty within nature. It’s easy to be caught up in the rat-race of life, but my work tends to peel back the synthetic layers of it all. I want to engage with people by highlighting nature’s beauty and asking them to consider the impact we all have on the environment.”

Annie began her work by sketching the design. She then used water colours to give it life before turning the artwork into a print for fabric, transforming the floral illustration from paper onto a finished garment. “I did a lot of research into the history of the early botanists who came to Australia during settlement. Australia has such an exquisite and unique family of native flora so I illustrated distinctly Australian plants such as gums as Banskia and turned them into a repeat textile print,” she says.

At 24 years old, Annie welcomed the opportunity to be involved in BioPak project. She says it has helped give young people like herself a platform to express the importance of nature and the environment.

“I grew up in the country so nature has always been an important part of my life. It’s great that this project is supporting young emerging artists and designers like myself who are passionate about the environment,” says Annie. “This is the first time one of my designs has appeared on something other than fabric, so it’s pretty exciting. I also love coffee, it’s such a great conversation starter between people, and so is art.”

United States-born film photographer Jessica Bee says it was an easy decision to collaborate with BioPak, given her interest in both coffee and art.

“Coffee and art go together perfectly. Coffee is art itself, not just in the patterns on top of the cup but as a creative medium,” says Jess. “BioPak is doing great things with their environmental cups, they’re great for sustainability so I’m enjoying being associated with a company that shares the same values and passion as I do.”

Currently living in Sydney, Jessica is a self-taught photographer. She gradually explored the potential of photography in creating artwork, mixing traditional work with film and vintage cameras and the modern effects of scanning to achieve her desired results. “I never really know how my results will turn out, and I really like that about my style of photography,” says Jess.

Her image featured on the new Art Series cups is titled Swimming in the Sky. It was inspired by her friends after a trip to the beach.

“I don’t tend to have many preconceived ideas with my work. If I see something cool or beautiful, I just start taking pictures. My friends all wanted to go swimming down at a local beach in Bulli, near Wollongong. I was inspired by the colours of the sky so I started taking photos,” says Jess. “I try to look at things in a different way, see things for what they could be and not what they are.”

The image was then put through a film scanner, using negatives on top of one another for multiple exposure and a grainy affect. Jess says that apart from her physical images that represent nature, reusing otherwise defunct equipment is her own way of making her practice sustainable.

“I’m using mediums that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Most of the film I use is expired and most professional photographers may not consider using it. finding cameras in opportunity shops is also about taking a medium that would go to waste and turning it into something useful and amazing,” she says.

The line-up of artists also includes fellow Sydney artists lily Rose Dambelli, Jennie Holtsbaum and Thomas Wilcox. BioPak is planning quarterly releases working with different artists each time.

Jess says she’s looking forward to the day she can go to her local café and enjoy a coffee in the cup she designed. “I can’t wait to sit down at a café and just watch people’s reactions when they receive the cup,” she says. “Hopefully they like it.”

Image 1 (left to right):

• Mark Gerada’s illustration addresses the way society uses everyday materials, and how they impact on the environment.
• Photographer Jessica Bee has used a vintage camera and multiple exposure to create her artwork titled Swimming in the Sky.
• Textile print designer and fashion student Annie Everingham’s artwork, titled Acacia is inspired by Australian flora and fauna.