Raw material is used for the plastic-free paper cups

A smart, innovative and 100% recyclable idea is now being used to create paper cups without the usual plastic layer. The primary problem with producing plastic-free paper cups has always been to make a coating that was able to contain liquids, which is why plastic has been used as the primary coating. But here’s where the latest innovative development within paper cups comes in:

Instead of producing them with a plastic layer, a water-based dispersion coating is now being used to form an effective barrier inside the cups to make them able to contain liquids. The main resource for the plastic-free paper cups is pulp from trees, which is mixed with chemicals and then put into a water fuse together to form a thin layer. When the water is dried off, the layer that is sticking to the pulp will then form a barrier that is able to contain liquids. This layer can contain liquids since the pulp is newly produced and doesn’t come from any recycled materials.

Usage of the product

The plastic-free paper cups are like normal paper cups mainly used by cafes, restaurants, and hotels. They can be used in all the same occasions as standard paper cups, since they can contain both cold and hot liquids. The plastic-free paper cups have the same restrictions regarding alcohol as normal paper cups, which means they cannot contain strong alcohol and should not contain drinks with more than 5% alcohol. Paper cup manufacturers specify that the cups can be used to serve beer without foaming too much.

Plastic-free paper cups and their compostability

When it comes to plastic-free paper cups and their compostability, there are ongoing tests to make sure that they’re compostable when thrown in nature. Most reports confirm that they are compostable, but to make sure, they must be under temperature conditions of 20-30 Celsius. If they’re under that temperature, it will take them 26 weeks to decompose. In this case, they should be sent to composting facilities to make sure they are decomposed in a proper way. No matter what, we of course do not recommend that you throw the paper cups in nature.

Plastic-free paper cups and their recyclability

Paper cups are manufactured from virgin wood fibers and other relevant chemicals which in general makes it easier and more available for recycling technologies to complete the recycling process without any problems. New pulp can easily be recycled to other paper products and be repulped even up to seven times. Of course, when recycled more than seven times, it will not have the same quality. It is also important to note that while the plastic-free paper cups are recyclable, they cannot be used to produce other food packaging products, since recycled paper is not allowed to be used for food contact materials.

The plastic-free paper cups are designed to be easily recycled and repulped so all recovery fiber facilities that process carton-board products, can process them without any problems. All paper board produced with plastic-free paper is proven to be recyclable and repulpable in conventionally recovered fiber facilities. So, the cups should be collected with other recyclable materials such as newspapers, magazines, etc.

Since the paper cups can be recycled in normal recycling facilities, this creates an efficient recycling system and process. Food service companies using wood fiber-based cups can then improve their environmental footprint easily with plastic-free paper cups. If the goal is to create a business model where customers can be a part of collecting paper cups, the recycling process should be easy.