Canadian coffeehouse and restaurant chain Tim Hortons has begun its trial of plastic-free, fibre hot beverage lids in an effort to reduce single-use plastics.

The chain said it is working toward developing a guest-friendly alternative to plastic lids that are easier to compost or recycle, while still providing a great drinking experience. The trial, which will last up to six weeks, takes place at selected Tim Hortons restaurants in Ottawa and Gatineau, in the company’s home market of Canada. 

The recyclable lids are part of the company’s five-year journey to develop more innovative solutions for packaging, said Paul Yang, senior director of procurement, sustainability and packaging for Tim Hortons.

This test is using an improved version of a similar fibre lid that was piloted in Vancouver early last year, which helped reduce more than 3.3 million plastic lids. Another similar test was conducted in Prince Edward Island earlier this year.

Founded in 1964, Tim Hortons has more than 5700 locations worldwide, including nearly 700 restaurants in the US.