Paper cups are used every day to drink tea, coffee or water. Well, because they are hygienic and carry no germs or viruses. But have you ever wondered if these paper cups are biodegradable or recyclable? You may have this question in your mind once in a while. The answer is yes! Paper cups are biodegradable and recyclable. However, the time taken to decompose them varies depending on the type and the environment in which they are disposed of. For example, if a paper cup is thrown into a landfill, it can take upwards of a few years to decompose, and in a commercial composting facility, it will decompose in just a few weeks.
Big companies and cafes use paper cups with plastic lids, which makes every single paper cup non-biodegradable. The plastic takes centuries to decompose, so when these cups end up in landfills, they’ll stick around for a long time. These plastic lids are made with non-recyclable plastic. So even if the paper cup is recycled, the lid will end up in the trash. However, to reduce environmental pollution, the government has taken steps to ensure that only bio-based plastic made up of cane or corn is used with paper cups to make them 100% biodegradable. This will help to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans and will also help to create a more sustainable economy.
The graph of paper cup usage in the beverage market is still on the verge of rising, with 40% of companies preferring to use paper cups and 60% of the market still using plastic cups. This indicates that plastic cup usage in future will fall. This is mainly due to the increasing awareness of the environmental impacts of plastic cups or the availability of more sustainable alternatives. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that paper cups are still in high demand and that the market for them is still growing.
What does biodegradability mean?
Biodegradable means that a substance can be broken down by natural processes into simpler, organic materials. This process is usually assisted by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, which convert complex substances into simpler ones that can be used as nutrients by plants.
The term biodegradable is often used interchangeably with compostable, but there is a slight difference between the two. Compostable materials must be able to break down into nutrient-rich compost within a time frame, usually within six months, while biodegradable materials may take longer to break down.
Both biodegradable and compostable materials are beneficial for the environment, as they can improve soil health and reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers.
Similarly, when you use a biodegradable paper cup, it can decompose naturally, which means that the cup will break down into smaller pieces over time and eventually turn into soil. Biodegradable paper cups are a great alternative to traditional plastic cups because they are environmentally friendly and will not contribute to pollution.
So next time you finish your morning coffee, think about how you can dispose of your paper cup in the most eco-friendly way possible.
Hurdles of recycling paper cups
Are you still wondering if paper cups are recyclable?
Yeah, they are. These words are from hundreds of manufacturers that claim that paper cups are recyclable. But there’s a bit more to it than that. While most paper cups are made from recyclable materials, the problem is that they’re often contaminated with food or drink, which makes them difficult to recycle.
That said, many paper cup manufacturers are working on ways to make their products more recyclable. To understand it a bit deeper let’s look at the manufacturing process of paper cups, it is a multi-step process that begins with the pulping of wood chips. The wood chips are mixed with water and chemicals to create a slurry. The slurry is then fed into a machine that extrudes it into thin sheets.
The sheets are then dried and cut into the desired shape and size. Once the cups are cut, they are coated with a wax or plastic film to make them waterproof. This plastic film is the only disadvantage in the recycling process that adds extra steps for recycling when the film is separated from the cup.
Considering the present situation, paper cups are ruling coffee shops, offices, tea stalls, and homes. The growth of biodegradable paper cups is speeding up the reduction of carbon footprint, and people will soon be avoiding the usage of plastic cups.
