The is essentially a water-based barrier coated paper cup, primarily serving takeaway beverage needs in the fast food industry. Fast food restaurants process large volumes of hot coffee, iced cola, milk tea, juice, soups, and even congee daily. Traditional PE-coated cups may release odors at high temperatures and are difficult to recycle after disposal. In contrast, the water-based coating of this product uses food-grade modified cellulose, capable of withstanding 100°C hot liquids while resisting oil penetration. Whether serving hot Americano or iced latte, the cup wall does not soften or deform. Additionally, the paper cup is suitable for short microwave heating, facilitating secondary use by customers.
The core advantages of the Waterborne Barrier Cup for Fast Food Restaurants are its "four breakthroughs":
1. Fully home compostable: No industrial composting conditions required; it naturally decomposes in home soil. According to field burial tests, the cup completely degraded by day 245, while PE-coated cups remained almost intact. This means customers of fast food chains can discard used cups directly into their backyard compost bins, without separate collection for industrial composting facilities.
2. Heat and oil resistance: The water-based coating withstands 100°C hot liquid impact without softening or leaking, and resists grease contact from fried chicken, french fries, etc. Even if the outer cup wall gets a little oil stain, the cup structure remains intact.
3. MONO material: Using globally leading fiber-aqueous barrier adhesive composite technology, the whole cup is a single material structure, eliminating the need to separate plastic film during recycling and greatly reducing regeneration energy consumption. Traditional PE cups require separating paper fibers from plastic film, a complex and costly process; this product can directly enter the pulp recycling system.
4. Significantly lower carbon footprint: Based on the ISO14067 standard life cycle assessment, the cup has lower CO2 emissions than traditional PE-coated cups in manufacturing, use, and disposal stages. Research data shows that water-based barrier paper cups have obvious carbon reduction advantages throughout the life cycle, especially saving significant energy during the processing stage.
| Parameter | Value/Feature |
| Base Material | Kraft paper / White cardboard (customer selectable) |
| Coating Type | Water-based barrier coating (no PE/PLA film) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -10°C to 100°C (microwave safe) |
| Composting Method | Home compostable + Industrial compostable |
| Degradation Time (natural soil) | Approximately 245 days for complete degradation |
| Certifications | BPI, FDA, BRC, Sedex, FSC, ISO9001, DIN, ABAP |
| Minimum Order Quantity | 100,000 pieces/size (mixed sizes allowed) |
| Custom Logo | Supported (UV or flexo printing) |
| Custom Packing | Supported (heat shrink film, carton labeling, etc.) |
| Lead Time | 25-30 days (from order confirmation) |
| Food Contact Safety | Complies with FDA 21 CFR 176.170 migration test |
The cup is available in 13 sizes from 2.5oz to 32oz, covering all common fast food cup types:
| Style | Size | Dimension Top*Bottom*Height(mm) | Capacity(ml) |
| Aqueous Lined Paper Cup | 2.5oz | 54×38×55 | 80 |
| 3oz | 57×40×57 | 80 | |
| 4oz | 61×44×63 | 110 | |
| 6oz | 80×53×78 | 225 | |
| 8oz | 90×56×85 | 300 | |
| 9oz | 75×53×90 | 240 | |
| 10oz | 80×53×112 | 330 | |
| 12oz-A | 90×58×110 | 400 | |
| 12oz-B | 80×56×112 | 330 | |
| 16oz | 90×59×132 | 500 | |
| 20oz | 90×62×153 | 590 | |
| 24oz | 90×63×179 | 709 | |
| 32oz | 105×71.5×178 | 946 |
Fast food restaurants can flexibly choose according to their beverage menu: small hot Americano in 8oz, medium iced cola in 16oz, large milk tea in 20oz or 24oz.
We conducted a 245-day field natural burial test. PE-coated cups, PLA cups, and the Waterborne Barrier Cup for Fast Food Restaurants were buried together in a pit in front of the research building. They were regularly dug up to observe their condition, then put back to ensure consistent degradation conditions.
- Day 85: The water-based coated cup had broken into large pieces, the cup structure loosened; PE and PLA cups remained intact with almost no visible change.
- Day 145: The water-based coated cup further fragmented into small pieces, the surface coating completely disappeared; only part of the PLA cup's paper fibers degraded, the plastic film remained; the PE cup still existed in large pieces with almost no degradation signs.
- Day 245: The water-based coated cup completely degraded, merging with the soil, unrecognizable; the PLA cup's paper fibers degraded but its PLA film had ruptured with residues remaining; the PE cup's plastic film was basically intact, only slightly cracked at the edges.
Experimental conclusion: Degradation degree from high to low: water-based coated cup > PLA > PE. This means choosing the cup ensures that tens of thousands of cups discarded monthly by fast food restaurants do not linger in landfills for centuries, but return to nature within a year. This experiment visually demonstrates the absolute advantage of water-based barrier technology in environmental performance.
Fast food restaurants typically have diverse cold/hot and size requirements. The cup meets nearly all takeaway needs:
● Hot drinks: Americano, latte, hot chocolate, black tea (recommended 8oz or 12oz-A)
● Cold drinks: Cola, iced tea, lemonade, milkshake (recommended 10oz or 16oz)
● Kids' meals: Small juice or milk (3oz, 80ml)
● Soups / congee: Corn soup, pork congee (20oz or 24oz with lid)
● Ice cream / sundae: 4oz or 6oz small cup
All sizes support custom logo printing using UV or flexo inks. The water-based coating has excellent surface adhesion, providing durable, non-fading prints. We can also supply matching paper lids or PLA lids for a complete plastic-free packaging solution.
As a global exporter, Want Paper equips the cup with a complete certification system:
● BPI: Certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute of America, confirming full decomposition in industrial or home composting.
● FDA: US Food and Drug Administration food contact material certification, ensuring cup material is safe and non-toxic.
● BRC: British Retail Consortium Global Standard for Packaging, meeting international food packaging quality systems.
● Sedex: Supplier Ethical Data Exchange certification, demonstrating the factory's social responsibility commitment.
● FSC: Forest Stewardship Council certification, ensuring pulp comes from sustainably managed forests.
● ISO9001: Quality management system certification.
● DIN: German industrial standard compostability certification.
● ABAP: Brazilian compostability certification.
These certifications enable the Waterborne Barrier Cup for Fast Food Restaurants to be exported without barriers to markets such as Europe, America, Japan, South Korea, and South America that have strict environmental requirements.
Want Paper offers flexible packaging solutions for fast food chain brands:
● Inner packaging: Heat shrink film, 50 or 100 pieces per pack, dustproof and moisture-proof.
● Outer packaging: Five-layer corrugated cartons with product information and recycling marks, custom labeling available.
● Pallet packaging: Bulk orders can be pallet-wrapped for easy forklift handling.
Customization process:
1. Customer provides logo design files (AI or EPS format).
2. Our prepress team prepares color proof, confirming color and position.
3. Sample making (about 3-5 days) for customer physical confirmation.
4. Mass production (25-30 days).
5. Shipment with sea/air freight documents.
Minimum order quantity: 100,000 pieces/size, but different sizes can be combined to reach the total quantity. For example, 30,000 pcs 8oz + 30,000 pcs 12oz + 40,000 pcs 16oz totals 100,000 pieces to place an order.
● Technology pioneer: We are the first factory in China to apply fiber-aqueous barrier adhesive composite technology on high-speed paper machines, eliminating secondary lamination processes, improving production efficiency and controlling costs.
● Full certifications: BPI, FDA, BRC, Sedex, FSC, ISO9001, DIN, ABAP, enabling global market access without barriers.
● Scale delivery: MOQ from 100,000 pieces, 25-30 days lead time, support custom logo and packaging, OEM/ODM orders accepted.
● Traceable carbon footprint: Provide product carbon footprint report based on ISO14067, helping restaurant brands achieve Scope 3 emission reduction targets. Studies show that water-based barrier cups have significantly lower carbon emissions than PE cups across the life cycle, especially saving large amounts of energy during production and processing.
● Real experimental data: We publicize the 245-day field degradation comparison experiment, speaking with facts and rejecting greenwashing marketing.
A: Yes. The water-based coating of the Waterborne Barrier Cup for Fast Food Restaurants withstands up to 100°C and contains no metal components. Short microwave heating (1-2 minutes, not exceeding 100°C) will not deform the cup or release harmful substances. However, if the cup is overfilled, liquid may spill; do not microwave an empty cup.
A: In an ordinary backyard soil environment (temperature about 15-25°C, with adequate moisture and occasional turning), our paper cups typically fully decompose within 4-6 months. As shown in the day 245 experiment, under natural uncontrolled conditions, complete disappearance takes about 8 months. Compared to PLA cups that require 58°C+ industrial composting and take 6-12 months to degrade, the usage barrier is much lower. Simply tear the used cup into pieces, bury in soil, and water regularly to accelerate decomposition.
A: Yes. 100,000 pieces can be mixed across multiple sizes (e.g., 3oz, 8oz, 16oz) to reach the total quantity, but each size may require a minimum production batch (e.g., at least 20,000 pieces per size). Please contact our sales for specific mixing plans; we will optimize production planning for you.
A: No. The water-based coating is made of food-grade modified cellulose, odorless and tasteless, and has passed FDA migration tests (21 CFR 176.170). Unlike PE-coated cups, it does not release any plastic smell or chemical components at high temperatures, preserving the original aroma of coffee and tea. Many specialty coffee shop customers report that beverage flavor purity is even better than with coated cups.
A: Yes. We can supply paper lids (water-based coating material) or PLA transparent lids that precisely fit the cup. Paper lids are also home compostable; PLA lids require industrial composting. We recommend fast food chains choose paper lids for a fully compostable solution.
A: Yes. Want Paper has a complete prepress design and plate-making team. In addition to the standard 13 sizes, if you have special diameter or height requirements, we can open new molds (one-time mold fee applies, refundable after reaching a certain order quantity). Printing supports up to 6 colors, spot colors or CMYK.
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No. 860 Hefei Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China
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