Things to Know About Basic information and Compostable Nature of Paper Cups

The paper cup is very common in our daily life. When we takeaway a cup of coffee, have a cup of soda drink or tea, or take a cup of ice cream, it will come into our eyes. Maybe you want to know what is made from? Actually, the paper cup is made of white paper or brown kraft paper coated with polyethylene (PE) or polylactic acid (PLA)or wax to prevent its leakage. And paper cups are commonly used for serving hot or cold beverages, such as coffee, tea, soda, and water, and are widely used in cafes, restaurants, and food service businesses.

Maybe you want to know how does paper cup made of?

We will introduce the processes to you as follows.

The manufacturing process of paper cups generally involves the following steps:

1. Paperboard production: The raw materials are pulped together to create a slurry, which is then rolled out into sheets of paperboard

2. Coating: To make the cups waterproof, they are coated with a thin layer of polyethylene or polylactic acid on the inside. This coating helps to prevent the liquid from soaking into the paper and causing the cup to break down.

3. Printing: Print the rolled paper in various design patten or logos as clients required.

4. Die cutting: The die cutting machine will cut the finished printed paper roll into paper cup fan in appropriate size and shape for next paper cup production.

5. Cup forming: The forming machine then curls the cup fan into the cup shape.

6. The finished cups are packed in sealing plastic bag and then packaged and stacked

for shipping and distribution.

The big difference between paper cups production process and plastic disposable cup production process is printing sequence. Because paper cup is printed first and then form the printed paper cup fan into a cup, while the plastic cup is printed on a blank disposable plastic cup.

After you get to know the basic information about paper cups, you are curious to know how can I choose the suitable paper cups for me? As we all know that there are various styles paper cups for us choose, and we will be at loss how to choose it.

If we want to answer the above question, firstly, we must be clear that how many kinds cups in total? Actually, there are three kinds: single wall cup, double wall cup and ripple wall cup.

A: Single wall paper cup: 1. single wall paper cup with single PE film/Wax coating

2.single wall paper cup with single PLA film coating

3.single wall paper cup with double PE coating

B: Double wall paper cup:1. Hollow wall paper cup with PE film/Wax coating

2.Embossing wall paper cup with PE film/Wax coating

3. Hollow wall paper cup with PLA film coating

4.Embossing wall paper cup with PLA film coating

C: Ripple wall paper cups: 1. Ripple wall paper cup with PE film/Wax coating

2.Ripple wall paper cup with PLA film coating

The following pictures show you these cups for your reference:

Second, we need to know these cups’ usage area.

Generally, single wall cups are the most common and consist of a single layer of paper with a lining of single PE or PLA, which are combined with paper cup sleeve for hot drinks. While, single wall paper cup with double PE coating is for cold soda drink or iced drink.

And double-wall cups have an extra layer of insulation to keep drinks hot or cold for longer periods. Ripple-walled cups have an additional layer of corrugated paper between the inner and outer layers to provide extra insulation and a comfortable grip. So double wall cup and ripple wall cup are common for hot drink.

Third, when we choose the paper cup, we may also have the concern that are paper cup recycle or compostable?

Yes, paper cups are recyclable, but not all recycling facilities accept them due to their polyethylene (PE) or polylactic acid (PLA) lining. The polyethylene (PE) or polylactic acid (PLA) lining helps to keep liquids from seeping through the paper, but it also makes it is difficult to recycle the cups.

Just take the Starbucks’ paper cup for example, Starbucks paper cups are not fully compostable because they are lined with a thin layer of polyethylene (PE) to make them waterproof and prevent leaks. While the paper portion of the cup can be composted, the plastic lining cannot, and can take a very long time to break down in a composting facility. But many recycling programs are now accepting paper cups for recycling, and there are also specialized facilities that can separate the paper from the polyethylene lining and recycle each material separately.

However, Starbucks has also introduced compostable cups (PLA lining cups) in some locations that are lined with a bio-based material made from plant-based materials such as cornstarch. These cups are designed to break down more easily in composting facilities and are a step towards more sustainable packaging.

It is important to note that compostable cups (PLA lining cups) can only be composted in specialized facilities that can handle the materials. They should not be placed in regular recycling or trash bins, as they will not break down properly and can contaminate the recycling stream. If you are unsure whether a cup or container is compostable, be sure to check the labeling or contact the manufacturer for more information.

All in all, paper cups are a popular choice because they are lightweight, convenient, and easy to dispose of after use. However, they also have environmental concerns due to their disposable nature and the difficulty of recycling them due to their plastic or wax lining. Many companies have started to use alternative materials such as compostable cups or reusable cups to reduce their environmental impact.

So, when you open a café or tea shop, or have a restaurant, you want to purchase a suitable cup, you can choose cup’s type depend on your drink and food properties, cups design, compostable or not and cost.