Single-use paper coffee cups have become the focus of debate and scrutiny because they are used in high volumes worldwide and, upon their disposal, pollute the environment. Fossil-base polyethylene used as barrier material in the coffee cups is recyclable but not compostable within a reasonable time period. Its recycling requires a systematic approach to collect, separate, sort and process used coffee cups. Recycling of polyethylene coffee cups is viable and can be economically attractive provided a continuous source of waste material is consistently available to recycling operations. New schemes to increase paper coffee cups collection and recycling have been implemented around the world. In this presentation, we review current and emerging commercial technologies used in the production of paper-based coffee cups. Still evolving, alternative large-scale production of bioplastics and optimized blending technologies may reach their tipping point for mass consumption in the next 5 to 10 years. Options for compostable and biodegradable coffee cups are emerging, yet they are not cost competitive to fossil-based plastic barriers for a broad market adoption. Currently, there is a premium price for compostable and biodegradable coffee cups, while systems and infrastructures for industrial composting need to further expand. Broad adoption of new sustainable solutions will be largely driven by changing consumer behavior, brand owner initiatives to meet sustainability goals, governmental policies -which limit or forbid use of fossil-based cups, and easily accessible infrastructure at the consumer level for collection, separation and processing of biodegradable cups.
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