Paper Cups are the Future, But are They Safe?

The paper used in paper cups is biodegradable, and in this article Paper Soup Cup Suppliers joins us to discuss the intricacies of paper cups.

The next time you pick up a cafe latte from your neighbor's barista or Starbucks, look at the cup itself. Chances are, it's a paper cup, which makes paper cup makers optimistic about the future. Some even say that the demand for paper cups will reach 100% in the near future due to the awareness and measures being taken by the government to promote the use of paper cups.

Paper Soup Cup

The problem with recycling

The real question is, are paper cups better?

When comparing the recyclability of Paper Cups and plastic cups, paper cups win by a wide margin. This is because paper is the main component of paper cups, which are naturally biodegradable.

This is an advantage. However, when you look at the manufacturing process of paper cups, it involves a stage called waterproofing, where a layer of LDPE is stacked on the sides and bottom of the cup to prevent water from being absorbed by the paper. This layer of LDPE is the only drawback in paper cups. This is because as a plastic material LDPE prevents the paper from being recycled.

Therefore, paper cups are not recyclable under normal circumstances. It requires a special process to separate the LDPE coating from the paper and the cup scrap is heated in a solution to remove the plastic lining. After that, the waste paper is shredded and recycled, and finally the impurities are filtered out. The final pulp can be used to make other paper products.

If we see today, the paper cup industry is witnessing a significant growth both due to the demand and the ethical production process. The harmless nature of the product, after processing, makes it an ideal and preferably convenient basic product due to its easily degradable quality. Another reason is its ample supply and corresponding high demand, which has a significant impact on production costs.

Currently, paper cups have taken a major share in the beverage industry such as tea, coffee, railroads, cold drinks in hotels, as well as in some household appliances and domestic applications, while replacing glass products.

Considering the environment 

As an industry for entrepreneurs to invest in, the paper cup industry is not capital intensive compared to other industries. However, the statistics are that it is actually a resource-intensive industry. This is because the entire papermaking process of a paper cup requires a lot of water, energy, and a lot of trees.

When it comes to the criticality of choosing paper cups, there are two main aspects to consider. One is the use of the paper needed to make the paper cups. This is a high-risk aspect that requires FDA approval because the base material is in direct contact with the liquid.

The typical paper coffee cup, currently in use, is not made from recycled paper. Instead, most cups are made using 100% bleached virgin paperboard. Why don't manufacturers use recycled paper? First, the FDA has strict regulations regarding allowing recycled paper pulp to come into direct contact with food and beverages.

The second risk factor is the environmental impact of paper cups. Statistics say that nearly 6.5 billion trees are cut down to produce paper for cups, and as a result of this, about 4 billion pounds of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. This is a serious problem. Also, adding to the problem is the fact that paper cups are difficult to recycle due to the use of polyethylene.

Market Potential 

Paper cups are currently used in a variety of ready-to-eat products. The available sizes range from 50 ml to 550 ml. Today, food-grade paperboard is being used to manufacture paper cups, which are rapidly expanding in use as a viable alternative to plastic and its family. Traditionally, paper packaging has been used consistently in this country. With the quantum leap in consumption and the expanding demand pattern, the future of the paper cup industry looks promising.

Manufacturing

Ideally, the manufacturing of paper cups is not very complicated. The backing paper for paper cups is called a cup board and is made on a special multi-layer paper machine with a waterproof barrier coating. This is done to give the paper a high degree of stiffness and a strong wet shrinkage. Cupboard grades have a special design in the cup manufacturing process. The mouth roll forming process requires good elongation properties of the paperboard and plastic coating. A well formed mouth roll provides good stiffness and cup handling properties. The basic weight of paper cupboard is 170-350 grams.

The company also offers Kraft Paper Bowl, please feel free to contact us if you need