A fast-paced “to-go” mentality permeates our society, including restaurants, coffee shops, and other food service establishments. This is especially visible when considering the popularity of to-go cups, or disposable cups. These hot or cold cups are designed to be used once and then thrown away. Disposable cups come in a variety of materials, a few of which are listed below.
• Wax-coated paper
• Poly-coated paper
• Styrofoam
• Plastic
• Bioplastic
Disposable cups are necessary for restaurants, commercial kitchens and businesses that capitalize on carryout items or serving items to consumers on-the-go. Before you buy, consider the beverages your business serves and the type of cup that would best suit your beverage.
Wax-coated paper
- Wax-coating provides extra rigidity and defends against absorption and leaks.
- Tough construction prolongs usability, ensuring that the cup will hold strong through extended use.
- The wax helps insulate beverages.
- Two-piece construction with a tightly rolled rim makes for worry-free, leak-proof drinking.
Poly-coated paper
- Poly-coated cups have a plastic polymer coating designed to keep beverages better insulated than by costly double-cupping.
- The coating helps the cup to retain its shape, enhancing its durability.
- The poly-lined construction improves the cup’s leak-proof properties and prevents liquid absorption.
- Paper cups are available with single or double poly-coating.
- Paper cups are also available with plastic lining, heat sealed seams and interlocked bottoms for improved dependability.
Styrofoam
- These cups provide a low-cost, lightweight option.
- Styrofoam material itself is a great insulator, a good choice for either cold or hot drinks.
- Styrofoam holds its shape better than a paper cup.
Plastic
- Sturdy plastic construction makes these cups leak-proof and nonabsorbent.
- Available in translucent, clear and colored options.
- These cups are more durable than Styrofoam but also more expensive.
Bioplastic
- Bioplastics are compostable and biodegradable under the right conditions, providing an alternative to dumping waste.
- These cups are known as PLA and are made of compostable material derived from corn and other such raw, renewable products.
- These biodegradable cups are slightly more expensive than paper, Styrofoam or plastic.
- Similar benefits and dependability of regular plastic to-go cups.
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