LG Electronics Launches 'MyCup' Tumbler Cleaner, to Be Installed in 2,000 Starbucks Stores Nationwide

Tumbler Cleaning with High-Temperature, High-Pressure Water
B2B Subscription Service and Dedicated Management App
Collaboration Planned with Public Institutions Including Gyeongsangnam-do

LG Electronics is expanding its lineup of eco-friendly products with the launch of the tumbler cleaner 'MyCup.' The company plans to sequentially install MyCup in all of the approximately 2,000 Starbucks stores nationwide within this year.

On April 21, LG Electronics announced that MyCup will be released on April 22, Earth Day. MyCup is a product designed to help users conveniently and hygienically clean tumblers for use in places such as cafes and offices, instead of relying on disposable cups. According to the Ministry of Environment, as of 2022, the annual domestic consumption of disposable cups reached a total of 23.1 billion, comprising 17.2 billion paper cups and 5.9 billion plastic cups. This resulted in an estimated disposal cost of about 1 trillion won.

LG Electronics has incorporated the differentiated washing and drying performance of its Dios dishwasher, as well as multi-directional cleaning features, into this product. Customers can choose from three different courses depending on their needs. The available options are: the 'Quick Course' for rapid cleaning within 30 seconds; the 'Standard Course' (4 minutes) for cleaning and drying after consuming coffee or dairy products; and the 'Dry Course' (9 minutes 50 seconds) for more thorough hygiene management.

MyCup uses a 360-degree rotating cleaning blade and 65°C high-temperature, high-pressure water to simultaneously clean both the inside and outside of the tumbler, as well as the lid. According to tests conducted by the global certification body TUV Rheinland, the standard course was found to remove 99.999% of three types of harmful bacteria: E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella.

Product image of the tumbler cleaner 'MyCup', provided by LG Electronics

The product is 23cm wide, allowing for installation even in tight spaces and offering excellent space efficiency. The 12-inch touch screen on the top of the unit can be used to play customized advertisements, enhancing its versatility. In addition, eco-friendly recycled plastic has been applied to various parts of the product, including the exterior cabinet, input cover, and the area surrounding the touch screen, further emphasizing its environmentally conscious design.

LG Electronics has also introduced a business-to-business (B2B) subscription service and a dedicated management app to address the burden of professional product maintenance and inspection. Customers who subscribe to the service receive professional care every three months, including: steam cleaning of the lower door grill and detergent/rinse dispenser, which are difficult to maintain personally; inspection of the touch screen operation and external damage; and replacement of the internal filter and water supply filter in the washing compartment.

Administrators can use the dedicated app to monitor device registration and usage status, as well as detergent and rinse consumption. Store visitors can also use the app to check the locations of nearby stores equipped with the product and see how many people are currently using the device in each store. The monthly subscription fee for a three-year contract for MyCup is 91,900 won.

LG Electronics, in partnership with Starbucks Korea, plans to sequentially install MyCup in all of the approximately 2,000 Starbucks stores nationwide within this year. Since the end of 2022, the two companies have been verifying the product in actual stores as part of their collaboration to promote the use of reusable cups.

LG Electronics is also working with various public institutions to implement its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) vision of 'Better Life for All' for sustainable growth. Recently, LG Electronics signed a business agreement with Gyeongsangnam-do and the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office to promote the use of reusable cups in public institutions, aiming to eliminate disposable cups. Through this agreement, the parties plan to collaborate on sharing and linking policies to expand reusable cup usage, promoting subsidy support projects, conducting promotional campaigns, and introducing and operating MyCup. Last year, LG Electronics also validated the effectiveness of the project by installing MyCup in public institutions located in Ansan City.

Lee Hyangeun, Head of Customer Experience (CX) for Home Solutions (HS), stated, "Based on our accumulated washing and drying technology from dishwashers, we aim to contribute to the spread of tumbler use culture by providing a differentiated customer experience with MyCup. We also plan to expand our subscription business through new B2B ventures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.