Disposable coffee cups - plastic, paper, or maybe another material? The choice matters!
Disposable coffee cups are utensils that we can meet really everywhere - cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, hotels, banquet halls, gas stations, fast-food outlets - this is only a small part of the places where they are used every day to serve this unique drink. In view of such a wide range of places in which they occur, and bearing in mind the scale in which they are used, it is worth considering their qualities of use, as well as their impact on the environment. For on the market we can find both traditional products, such as plastic or styrofoam cups, and their ecological alternatives in the form of paper cups, PLA cups or cups made of sugar cane. And here the question arises - which to choose?
In today's article we will do a little comparison and answer which disposable coffee cups will prove to be a better solution for home and premises. You are welcome!
Disposable coffee cups - to what do they owe their popularity?
What makes disposable coffee mugs such common products nowadays?
The main reason behind their popularity is the coffee itself, which has a huge number of supporters - not only in Poland, but practically in every corner of the world. Due to the fact that it is such an appreciated beverage, no one should be surprised that there is a constantly growing demand for the production of more disposable cups.
Of course, what we have written about is not the only factor that makes us encounter them in fact at every step. At this point, it is worth highlighting their unique functional characteristics. First of all, disposable coffee mugs are easy to store, transport and are perfect for serving other drinks as well - not only hot ones like coffee or tea, but also slightly cooler ones like water or juice.
What's more, disposable coffee mugs are also lightweight, they hold the temperature of the liquid very well, and you don't have to wash them after using them - you can confidently throw them in the garbage, or, as in the case of eco-friendly alternatives, in the composter.
Disposable coffee mugs - what material to choose?
At this point we can already go to the heart of the problem, that is, which disposable coffee mugs to choose? After all, there are several possibilities - they can be made of plastic or paper, but not only - polystyrene mugs and those made of other materials such as sugarcane also appear on the market.
Below we take a detailed look at their features and characteristics, which should make it a little easier to choose the perfect mug for your premises or home.
Plastic disposable coffee cups
Disposable plastic coffee cups are undoubtedly one of the most popular varieties of these utensils. It is worth noting here, which not many people are aware of, that in fact among plastic coffee cups, we can also include the commonly used paper coffee cups, covered inside with plastic. They have been with us for many years and are among by far the most popular solution, which certainly can't come as a surprise - they are versatile - great for serving hot coffee and cold drinks, distinguished by their resistance to high and low temperatures and lightness. Disposable plastic coffee cups are also an economical solution - their prices are usually low, which, according to us, is the main reason for their widespread use.
Among the biggest disadvantages of this solution, which in our eyes should disqualify them, is their total environmental unfriendliness. They take hundreds of years to decompose, thus posing one of the biggest problems for our planet. Paper cups covered with plastic are additionally not recyclable, due to the lack of technical ability to effectively separate plastic from paper. It is very important that disposable coffee cups made of 100% plastic are properly segregated (these are recyclable). Otherwise, the environment will suffer greatly - even more than before. It is worth noting that plastic coffee cups are not very resistant to damage. Due to their light weight, they can topple over in gusts of wind, spilling their contents in the process, which can be problematic, for example, if they stain clothing. By consuming hot drinks in them, we also supply the body with further doses of micro-plastics, the harmfulness of which probably no one needs to be convinced anymore.
Nowadays, the use of disposable plastic cups is being abandoned - mainly for the sake of the environment, and according to the implemented EU directive, any cup that contains plastic in it - must contain an appropriate marking.
Paper coffee cups
Paper coffee cups are quite a different story from the plastic or plastic-covered dishes described above. Nowadays, technology makes it possible to produce mugs made of 100% paper with a water dispersion coating or PLA (organic plastic) coating. These mugs are becoming increasingly popular, both among venue owners and conscious customers, for whom the state of our planet is not indifferent. We can confidently say that paper is one of the most eco-friendly materials from which disposable cups can be made.
Thanks to their origin, they are 100% recyclable. What's more, disposable coffee cups are also biodegradable - this means only that during decomposition they do not emit toxic substances into the environment and can be successfully thrown into a home composter, where they will become natural fertilizer in no time. This is a fully ecological solution that everyone should take advantage of - in this way we will help the planet in the fight against the ubiquitous plastic and other plastics.
At this point it is also worth noting that paper coffee mugs also come in double-wall versions, so the risk of scalding yourself with a hot drink drops to practically zero. What's more, paper mug models maintain their temperature for a long time, are insensitive to getting wet and are lightweight, which makes them popular among people who order takeaway coffee.
In fact, paper coffee cups have no disadvantages that would somehow disqualify them from being chosen for a catering establishment or home. It is a relatively cheap and environmentally friendly solution. Unfortunately, it is still a bit more expensive than common, non-ecological solutions using plastic.
Disposable paper coffee cup with a capacity of 250 ml.
Disposable paper coffee cups with logo
There are also printed coffee mugs on the market (including on the SlowPack wholesaler's website) , which are an excellent marketing medium for the establishment. Why? Being able to put your own logo on the mug is a solution to make it memorable to your customers. It is worth mentioning that we can find such eco-friendly disposable coffee mugs in the largest and most recognizable restaurants, cafes or hotels - not only in Poland, but also in other countries.
Styrofoam takeaway disposable coffee cups
While it may seem surprising, it's worth knowing that disposable coffee cups are also made of Styrofoam. At this point, let's be clear: buying them is not a wise option. Why?
You should be aware that during contact with hot liquid it emits toxic compounds that have a harmful effect on the endocrine system, digestive system, as well as the liver. This is confirmed by numerous studies, which is why we advise against buying disposable Styrofoam coffee cups, which can cause headaches, confusion and more serious ailments.
Fortunately, according to the latest directive, the European Union has banned the production of these harmful cups. Nevertheless, we can still find them in some wholesalers with stocks from before the directive came into force.
We strongly advise against buying them!
Coffee mugs made of sugar cane
A very interesting solution are also mugs made of sugar cane - they have all the advantages of paper mugs, but are slightly more expensive.
In this case, we also do not have to worry about their compostability. No one has yet come up with the idea of covering sugarcane mugs with plastic :)
Paper, plastic, styrofoam or sugarcane mug - summary
As you can see from the above information: each disposable cup is different, but the most sensible in our opinion are paper cups demonstrating great usability on the one hand , full ecology on the other, and a relatively low price.
They are ex aequo with sugarcane mugs the most environmentally (and our health) friendly solution, which makes them recommended for use in various types of catering establishments, where coffee and other drinks - both hot and cold - are served every day. What's more, they allow you to put your own logo or inscription - so if you want to take care of your company's reputation, you should reach for paper cups.
And if you're looking for such products... check out the category of printed disposable mugs on our website. There you will find fully eco-friendly products made of paper, as well as bioplastic (PLA), which looks deceptively similar to plastic. However, it is a fully plant-based material that is harmless to the environment.
Eco-friendly PLA printed cup. Made of cornmeal, it can withstand a temperature range of -20°C to 40°C, making it recommended for serving cold and summer drinks, as well as desserts.
Explore the full range and choose eco coffee mugs, thanks to which you will take care of the health of your customers, as well as save the planet from hazardous waste. The site offers printed eco mugs for hot drinks and biodegradable mugs for cold drinks with your own logo.
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