Disposable coffee cups typically have a plastic resin, or polyethylene, lining. Polyethylene is a petroleum-based plastic, requiring thousands of barrels of oil to line our
Takeaway paper cups are lined with a polymer (plastic) lining to make them waterproof. Traditionally this lining is polyethylene, but in the case of compostable cups it is a polylactic acid plastic lining. The plastic lining in takeaway coffee cups is just one element making these difficult to recycle.
Disposable or single-use coffee cups have a plastic liner, so can't go in any recycling bins (at home or in public). Even those that are 'compostable' cups can't go in food and garden organics bins. Australia's composting facilities are unable to process them currently.
The majority of coffee cup lids are made from polystyrene or recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET). Polystyrene is a petroleum-based plastic, whereas polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a polymer resin of the polyester family.
Starbucks paper cups have two main components, a paper layer and a polyethylene layer. The paper layer consists of 90% virgin paper board and 10% post-consumer paper (Luna 8). Starbuck's paper cup manufacturer, International Paper, actually has a patent to have 10% post-consumer fiber in a polyethylene paper cup.
Drink carriers may be made from paperboard, molded pulp, plastic or other materials.
“The slow decomposition of disposable cups, especially those with plastic linings, can lead to the release of microplastics into the environment,” and on the off chance that your disposable cup winds up in waste bound for incineration, that process “can release pollutants into the air”.
When you heat disposable cups in the microwave, some chemicals, such as BPA and phthalates, can transfer into the cup's contents.
The most common types of disposable plastic cups type are made from PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, as PET cups are durable and long-lasting. HDPE, or high-density polyethylene, is also often used to produce plastic cups as this material can be recycled more easily than PET cups.
Using high-quality paper cups minimises absorption of essential oils and aromatic compounds, preserving the coffee's full-bodied aroma and taste.
Paper cups have two basic parts—paper and polyethylene. Comprising only 5% of the whole container, the polyethylene liner is what brings the muscle - the liquid barrier that keeps heat in and prevents the cup from getting soggy - but it's also a contaminant in the paper waste stream.
The quantities of released MPs are in the range of 675-5984, 781-4951, and 838-5215 particles/L for PE-coated paper cups, PP cups and PS cups, respectively, when containing pure water at 95 °C for 20 min.
The main raw material required for manufacturing plastic disposable cups is High Impact Polystyrene (HPIS) sheet(15 MT per annum). Process: Polypropylene/Polystyrene sheet feeding reels of preset length is dragged from bobbin reel in the thermoforming plant.
Disposable coffee cups
And the cups are repeatedly (but wrongly) thought to be recyclable as they appear to be made of cardboard. Unfortunately, most single-use, disposable coffee cups are lined with plastic which causes them to take 20 to 30 years to break down after being disposed of.
Once cooled, polystyrene has several light, expanded cells, and serves as an excellent insulator and shock absorber. This is a reason why it's commonly used in disposable food and beverage packaging like coffee cups, as well as coolers, bicycle helmets, car seats, protective packaging and more.
Disposable coffee cups typically have a plastic resin, or polyethylene, lining. Polyethylene is a petroleum-based plastic, requiring thousands of barrels of oil to line our paper cups every single year. Beyond the fossil fuel requirements, single-use plastics present another issue: proper disposal.
Because all “paper” hot cups are actually lined with plastic they can't be recycled or composted. But ask a Starbucks barista how to dispose of your coffee cup (I did) and chances are they'll tell you to recycle it (they did). And some of their in-store bins even say the same thing.
Studies have shown that the hotter the liquid, the more chemicals are released from the plastic. This is a significant concern for coffee drinkers, as coffee is typically served at temperatures ranging from 160°F to 185°F (71°C to 85°C), which can increase the risk of chemical migration from the cup to the coffee.
Disposable cups break down in landfills, releasing microplastics that pollute our bodies and ecosystems. Studies link these microplastics to reproductive harm, metabolic issues, and increased cancer risk. The plastic film in our paper cup begins to degrade within the 15 minutes or so it takes to finish our beverage.
Single-use plastics, such as straws, plastic bags, and water bottles, are some of the biggest environmental hazards today. They are non-biodegradable and take hundreds of years to decompose, which means they remain in landfills for decades, polluting the environment and endangering wildlife.
Is it safe to reuse paper coffee cups for drinking? Reusing paper coffee cups for drinking is generally not recommended due to the risk of structural failure, bacterial growth, and chemical leaching.
Furthermore, it has also been demonstrated that when consuming hot beverage from disposable paper cups resulted in the ingestion of both MPs and fluoride ions released from the cups, thereby leading to the co-exposure of MPs and fluoride (Joseph et al., 2023; Ranjan et al., 2021).
PS plastic lids are the most common lids suitable for disposable coffee cups. Polystyrene is a recyclable plastic. Common PS cup lids are pop open and flat lids. The drink hole part of Pop open lids has a cover to prevent drinks from spilling during takeout.
Expanded polystyrene is used to manufacture foam cups, and polypropylene is used to manufacture plastic cups.