Choosing the material of a paper cup is actually much more particular than many people imagine. A seemingly ordinary small paper cup involves not only cost issues, but also user experience, safety and environmental performance. For industries such as catering, coffee, and takeaway, whether the cup is easy to use and whether customers feel it is reliable often depends on whether you have chosen the right material.
The first thing to look at is the paper itself. The base paper used in most paper cups is divided into two categories: one is virgin wood pulp paper, which is what we call food-grade paper. It is clean, strong, and hygienic, suitable for various hot and cold drinks; the other is recycled paper, which is relatively environmentally friendly and has a lower cost, but it must be coated with a suitable coating before it can directly contact food. Which one to choose depends on your focus on quality, environmental protection, and budget.
The reason why paper cups can hold water is because of the coating on its surface. Common ones are PE coating, PLA coating, and water-based coating. PE is a plastic material with good waterproof performance and high stability. It is the most mainstream paper cup coating on the market, but it is not very environmentally friendly and recycling is more troublesome. PLA is a plant-based material, such as corn starch, which is more environmentally friendly and can be decomposed under industrial composting conditions, but it has certain requirements for the use temperature and storage conditions. Water-based coatings are a new choice in recent years. They are environmentally friendly, plastic-free, and easier to recycle, but the current market penetration rate is not high. Which one to choose depends on what you value more - cost, safety, or environmental performance.
Paper cups for different purposes also have different requirements for materials. For example, for hot drinks, the cup wall should be thicker, the coating should be resistant to high temperatures, and you can also choose a double-layer or corrugated cup body to prevent scalding; cold drink cups do not have such high requirements for insulation, but they must be well sealed to prevent water leakage; cups for ice cream and frozen products should use more low-temperature resistant materials to prevent moisture absorption and deformation. If you have more product types, it is best to choose appropriate cup types and materials according to different drinks. Don't try to save trouble by "one cup for all", which will easily cause problems in the end.
Another point that cannot be ignored is food safety. All materials that come into direct contact with drinks must meet food contact grade standards, such as the domestic QS mark, the US FDA certification, the EU CE certification, etc. Especially for export products, different countries have very different requirements for materials. You must confirm with the supplier in advance, and don't let a small cup affect the delivery of the entire batch.
Today's consumers are becoming more and more sensitive to environmental protection. If your brand has an environmental protection concept, the material of the paper cup can also become part of the brand communication. PLA coating, compostable labels, plastic-free coating, etc. can enhance the brand image. Even if you can't replace environmentally friendly materials for the time being, you can start with a certain product line.
Finally, don't forget the printing problem. If you want to print a logo, pattern or event information on a paper cup, you must confirm with the manufacturer in advance whether the paper and coating are suitable for printing. Some materials have poor ink absorption, and the printed color is not correct or easy to fade, which will directly affect the appearance.
In general, choosing a suitable paper cup material is not only to make the cup "usable", but also about user experience, brand image and long-term operation stability. Although the paper cup is small, there are many details. If you choose the right one, it will be worry-free to use, and customers can also feel your professionalism and care.
Qingdao Want Paper is a supplier of paper bowls in China. Our products are widely applied in multiple fields such as catering, takeout and food processing. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of environmental awareness, Want Paper paper bowl products have gained increasing favor among consumers in the market. Thanks to its environmentally friendly materials and innovative design concepts.
