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All business owners will understand the importance of delivering a positive and lasting impression to their customers. Demonstrating your commitment to outstanding service is effortlessly achieved through the use of eco-conscious packaging.
Studies reveal that customers are inclined to invest more in products that come in sustainable packaging options. However, navigating the vast array of beverage packaging available can pose a challenge when seeking eco-friendly disposable coffee and other hot drink cups.
This guide has been put together to assist you in selecting the ideal coffee cups for your establishment, whether it be a café, coffee shop, drinks stand, or any other enterprise serving hot and cold beverages.
Coffee sizes and types are extensive and can be a little complicated but you will need the right size cups to suit your hot beverages menu. It may be best to keep things simple in order to give customers what they want. Here’s a simple guide to the most popular hot drink cup sizes:
4oz - Suitable for single or double shot (Espresso) - Example: 4oz PLA White Hot Cup Dispo
6oz - Suitable for small coffees (Macchiato, Flat White) - Example: Vegware Kv-6 6oz Brown Kraft Hot Cup, 72-Series
8oz - Suitable for regular coffee (Latte, Cappuccino, Americano) - Example: Go-pak 8oz Triple Wall Kraft Ripple Cup
12oz - Suitable for Large Coffee (Latte, Cappuccino, Americano) - Example: Fiesta Recyclable Coffee Cups Ripple Wall Black 340ml / 12oz
16oz - Suitable for Extra Large Coffee (French Press, Filter Coffee) - Example: Fiesta Recyclable Coffee Cups Ripple Wall Kraft 455ml / 16oz
There are a few options when it comes to types of disposable drink cups these are as follows:
Single wall cups are produced with a single layer of paperboard, are generally ok to use for hot drinks but could be better suited for chilled beverages. If you opt for serving hot drinks in them, it's wise to complement them with a coffee cup sleeve and a warning note. Straightforward yet efficient, these inexpensive takeaway coffee cups are a favoured option among environmentally aware businesses operating on a tight budget.
Double wall cups are probably the most popular choice. They offer excellent insulation and provide a robust construction. Perfect for hot beverages, they remain cost-effective as they eliminate the need for a hand sleeve.
Ripple & Triple wall cups offer advantages similar to double wall coffee cups, ensuring your customers enjoy hotter coffee for an extended period compared to single-wall cups. The corrugated, textured surface of these takeaway coffee cups offers superb insulation and enhanced grip, facilitating easy carrying of hot beverages, even on chilly and blustery mornings.
All disposable drink cups feature a lining to prevent leaks and spills. Without these linings, liquids would seep into the cup's material, rendering them unfit for use.
These linings come in various materials and their usage dictates the appropriate disposal method for coffee cups:
Cups lined with a PLA Lining are compostable and biodegradable. PLA is a naturally occurring substance meaning it will break down into organic compounds as it degrades. This process can take between three and six months under the right conditions.
PLA will provide a natural, glossy and liquid resistant barrier, plus it’s actually heat resistant too making it a perfect for hot drinks.
Recyclable coffee cups that are constructed with a PE (polyethylene) lining, provide a sleek finish both inside and out. Ideal for hot drinks, they excel even more with cold beverages.
The internal PE coating stops liquids from seeping through, while the glossy external coating prevents condensation from dampening the cup's exterior. These types of cups are ideal if recycling facilities are abundant in your locality, as they are widely accepted in both household and commercial recycling programs.
While reusable coffee cups have witnessed a surge in popularity recently, the convenience factor often leads individuals to opt for disposable alternatives, especially in bustling urban environments.
Moreover, the environmental benefits of reusable cups are contingent upon consistent usage, requiring up to 250 cycles to offset the ecological footprint of disposable counterparts. This reliance on consumers to consistently carry reusable cups can present challenges in daily routines.
Despite these considerations, the advantages of single-use coffee cups are evident, offering three distinct benefits:
Given their composition of natural materials, paper cups inherently biodegrade, posing minimal environmental harm compared to synthetic alternatives. Even if disposed of in general waste, they degrade significantly faster than plastics, typically within a few hundred years.
Wooden and paper stirrers and straws have taken the place of plastic alternatives since the UK banned the plastic varieties. We offer a selection of essential hot drink accessories to complement your eco-friendly takeaway drinks service:
Hot Cup Lids - Definitely an essential when it comes to serving takeaway hot drinks. Our lids will offer a perfect fit and will help to prevent leaks and spills.
Cup Clutches & Sleeves - A must have for serving hot drinks in single wall paper cups. They will provide protection from burns to the hands of your customers.
Straws & Stirrers - Wooden stirrers are perfect for those who require additional sweetening to their hot drinks. Paper straws are a great addition to iced coffee and similar drinks.
Cup Holders - A good option to have for customers placing orders of multiple hot drinks. These sturdy cup holders can hold either 2 or 4 cups, helping to prevent spills and making them easy to carry. Their strong, cardboard construction makes them completely recyclable and compostable.
We hope you have found this guide useful. You can browse our entire range of hot cups and drink accessories here.
Sources: https://takeawaypackaging.co.uk/guide-to-disposable-coffee-cups/
