The process of converting trees into paper coffee cups requires an intricate mixture of machinery and human supervision. It also involves a lot of chemicals.
Consumer demand has led to a proliferation of new solutions from raw materials, manufacturers, and converters to deliver paper cups that are both recyclable and biodegradable without relying on fossil-based plastics. However, these innovations have made only limited inroads into displacing PE-lined cups.
Convenience
Paper coffee cups are a convenient way to hold hot beverages on the go. They are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles to suit every taste. They are also environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Moreover, they are a great choice for small businesses that want to promote their brand identity. These cups can be printed with a custom design to reflect the company’s ethos. The printing technique can range from screen to offset to digital, and the paper cup supplier will select the best method to meet specific requirements.
Manufacturers are increasingly working to develop solutions that will eliminate the need for plastic liners in paper coffee cups. These efforts are based on commercial material technologies, including water-based coatings and dispersion technologies. These methods can help reduce unit cost by eliminating the need for offline handling and extrusion. However, they have yet to make a significant impact on the overall unit cost of coffee cups.
Environment-Friendly
Using paper cups reduces the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans, protecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It also uses a renewable resource that can be sustainably harvested, helping to avoid depleting the world’s forest resources. In addition, producing paper cups requires less energy than plastic cup manufacturing, further reducing their environmental footprint.
The majority of paper coffee cups are coated with barrier layers that are re-pulpable or compostable in industrial facilities. Converters such as Beautiful Cups (the Netherlands) and Smart Planet Technologies (US) offer rePaper beverage cups with barrier coatings that contain 41 to 50% less resin than traditional cups with fossil-fuel PE liners.
Although biodegradable papers are a more sustainable option, they still take time to break down in the natural environment. Industrial composting offers a controlled and efficient environment that breaks down paper products quickly. Home composting may be an alternative, but it is more difficult to maintain optimal conditions for best results.
Recyclable
Paper cups are a staple for coffee shops, but they’re also easy to recycle. Most are lined with a thin layer of plastic to make them waterproof, and that plastic is difficult to separate during recycling. Thankfully, many recycling programs now accept specially designed paper cups with minimal polymer.
Some converters have commercialized a liner that uses less than 40% fossil-based PE and is re-pulpable. Others use an aqueous barrier coating like latex or WBBC that can be applied using existing coating equipment. BASF offers developmental acrylate water-based polymers that pass both barrier and converting requirements, and the resulting cup can be re-pulped or industrially composted (Hamalainen 2019).
Manufacturers also unleash their creativity by printing on top of these reusable cups. Whether it’s an emblem or a corporate logo, each printed design tells a story and speaks to the brand’s values. Moreover, these designs are eco-friendly with flexographic printing, which produces less waste and lower pollutant emissions than other print methods.
Biodegradable
While discarded plastic cups pose significant harm to ecosystems and wildlife, resolving the waste problem has been challenging. However, it is possible to minimize the environmental impact of these disposable cups by utilizing biodegradable coffee cups. These products can be disposed of in landfills and are safer for marine life, as they do not contain harmful chemicals that can affect food chains.
While traditional paper cups feature a thin layer of plastic that prevents leaks and loss of heat, this coating impedes recycling efforts and biodegradability. Some forward-thinking manufacturers are developing biodegradable paper cups without this coating, aiming to strike a balance between functionality and sustainability.
The entire process of transforming trees into paper cups involves a delicate blend of machinery and human supervision. This careful approach is essential to ensure that the end result is eco-friendly and practical. In addition, it is important to consider the full life cycle of the cup, including the production process and sourcing of raw materials.