FAQ's
Q: What coatings do most paper cups contain? A: Most paper cups contain either a polyethylene plastic (PE) film, or a cornstarch-based PLA (polylactic acid) or PBS (polybutylene succinate) lining.
Q: Why are PE coated cups bad? A: They are bad for multiple reasons: 1.) They are NOT easily recyclable – the plastic film and paper need to be separated in an industrial machine before it can be recycled. This is a cost and energy intensive process that only a few facilities in the world have the capability to carry out, which is why most “recyclable” paper cups end up in landfills. 2.) While they claim to be biodegradable, it takes about 20 years for these cups to biodegrade. 3.) According to research published in the ‘Journal of Hazardous Materials’, when hot beverages are consumed in only 100 ml of these cups, 25,000 microplastics enter the beverage in only 15 mins! The research also found traces of lead, chromium, and cadmium which pose a significant health concern.
Q: PLA/BioPBS cups are good though, right? A: While they are better than PE coated paper cups as they are not derived from petroleum-based products, they still cause environmental concerns. They are compostable only under industrial composting conditions and cost more to compost than using PE coated cups. They are not easily recyclable either as the PLA lining needs to be separated from the paper too.
Q: Should I be worried about the performance of RAS Bio Cups? A: NOT at all! Our cups can withstand temperatures of up to 100 degrees celsius (hot tea/coffee is usually served at 71 – 85 degrees celsius) and are comparable to PE coated cups.
Q: How can I find out if my cups are coated with plastic? A: 1.) Rub Test - Add water on the outside of your paper cup and rub until you see a film of plastic 2.) Burning Test - Take a flame and circle it around the surface of a paper cup. If it starts to smell unpleaseant, plastic is present. 3.) Sealing Test - Only plastics seal to plastics. Take any plastic film material and using a hand sealer, try sticking the film to the inside of a paper cup. In the case of a PE coated cup, it will stick, but not with RAS Bio Cups.
Q: Can I get my logo on the cup? A: YES! We can do any custom printing on the cups that you require. Just send us the design, or we can help design it for you.
Q: So how are RAS Bio Cups different? A: Glad you asked! We use a water-based barrier coating that is 100% plastic-free. It does not form a film that’s left behind which makes the cup Easily Repulpable and Recyclable.
