200ml (7oz) Plant-Derived 'Compostable' Plastic Cup

We might think that 'compostable' plastic should compost like fallen leaves or a dropped apple core. Unfortunately, as litter, it behaves just like regular plastic. It is called 'compostable' because it composts in an industrial composting facility where temperature and humidity far exceed that found in the natural environment. Unless your event space runs a closed-loop composting scheme, the end-of-life scenario for most 'compostable' plastics is the general waste bin. But it still has many benefits, and the ideal choice for many situations. 

What is this material?

Firstly, we prefer to call it plant-derived plastic. It is more accurate. It's chemical acronym is PLA. There is a lot of green-washing to see past but most 'compostable' plastic is PLA and it all behaves the same way.

When to use it

Ideally, we would re-use cups as many times as possible and then recycle them. Unfortunately, this is not practical at many event locations: People walk off with cups and there may be an insufficient infrastructure (bins and signage) for efficient recycling. So if, for reasons outside your control, the cups will end up in the general waste, plant-derived plastic cups are a good choice.

Environmental credentials of plant-derived plastic cups  

1. Reduced CO2. The overall net emission is still thought to be positive, but some studies show a reduction in carbon emission of between 60-80% when using bio-based materials instead of petroleum-based plastics.

2. Sustainability. Plant-derived plastic is sustainable because plants are a renewable resource. The raw material is usually corn or sugarcane. It leaves fossilised carbon (oil) in the ground.

What about paper?

Paper cups are an excellent choice when the paper is being recycled. That is easily done when the cups are plastic-free. But obviously paper is not transparent, so if a clear cup is important, recycling is difficult, and you need an eco-frielndly option, plant-derived plastic cups remain a good choice.

Printing

We can print this glass in 1-2-3-4 and full colour. Please send us your brand artwork for a visualisation and quote.