Assume you’re in your office and want a cup of tea or coffee. And here are two options in front of you: paper cups and plastic cups. Which one will you choose? Maybe you will choose the paper cup because you’ve heard that paper cups will not do harm to your health and also are friendly to the environment. But there are more reasons why paper cups are better than the plastic ones.

Today we’ll tell you why paper cups are better than plastic cups.

what is a paper cup?

So before making the comparison, let’s first find out what makes the paper cup a paper cup.

And some paper cups are also disposable paper cup. These cups are made out of paper and often lined or coated with plastic or wax, so they can prevent liquid like water and coffee from leaking out or soaking through the paper. You can see custom disposable coffee paper cups at a birthday party, a wedding, and also in an office. What can these paper cups do for you? They can serve both hot and cold beverages and even can be used for soups, salads, and other foods you want.

What is a paper cup made of?

What is a paper cup made of? Well, don’t get trapped by its name “paper cup”, as it’s not made of 100% paper. Woods and trees are the main raw materials for manufacturers to make paper cups. That means paper cups are made of around 90% to 95% paper, and the other 5% is made up of a plastic coating of polyethylene, which makes the paper cup waterproof.

What is a plastic cup?

And what makes the plastic cup a plastic cup? As the name suggests, plastic cups are made out of plastic and are often used as a container to hold different kinds of drinks, mostly cold ones. And we suggest you not use a plastic cup for hot drinks. Why? Here are two reasons: first, a plastic cup doesn’t have a handle, so it can’t protect you from getting burnt by the heat (we also make paper cups with handles); second, hot liquids may melt or warp the material, and there will be some toxics when heated liquid is introduced to plastic, which will cause health problems on human bodies as well.

What are plastic cups made of?

Some of these plastic cups can be used several times while others are designed for only a single use by recycling or disposal. Why? Because they’re made of different plastics.

Plastic cups can be made from various kinds of plastic, such as PET plastic, PLA plastic and HDPE plastic. Plastic cups made from PET are the most common, as PET cups are enduring and can be used for a rather long time. HDPE is a rather solid material and can lead to fewer leaks and spills compared to other materials. And PLA cups can be seen at coffee shops and restaurants for their compostable quality.

Are paper cups better than plastic?

Paper cup vs plastic cup, who will win? Are paper cups better than plastic cups? The answer is yes.

Why? Let’s dive in.

Eco-Friendly Superstars: Biodegradable Paper Cups are the superheroes of the environment! Why?  Because they’re made from renewable materials and break down quickly, unlike their plastic counterparts that stick around for ages in landfills.

Biodegradability: Think of paper cups as nature’s friends. They naturally decompose over time, leaving no nasty residue behind. Plastic cups, especially Styrofoam ones, refuse to play nice and just linger in the environment.

Greener Raw Materials: Paper cups are crafted with a conscience. They’re often made with a majority of paper and even have cool tech like graphene nano-barriers for waterproofing. Plastic cups, on the other hand, use materials that aren't environmentally friendly.

Energy Efficiency: Sure, making paper cups might require a bit more energy, but when you consider their eco-friendliness and quick biodegradation, it's a worthwhile trade-off.

Lower Carbon Footprint: Paper cups win in the environmental race. They have a smaller carbon footprint compared to plastic cups. That’s a win for Mother Earth!

H2 Does a paper cup cause cancer?

It cannot be denied that paper cups are your friends in working spaces and traveling sites. However, according to some studies, when we pour hot drinks like coffee and tea into a paper cup, the tiny plastic particles on the inside surface of the paper cup will get dissolved with the hot liquid. After being contaminated, the hot drinks will be harmful to your health.

So, for your health, we recommend you use paper cups at a low frequency. After all, health is of the utmost importance.

Conclusion

So paper cup vs plastic cup, who wins?Definitely paper cup.

Paper cups are the eco-friendly superheroes of the beverage world. Made from renewable materials, they break down quickly, unlike their plastic counterparts that stubbornly linger in landfills for ages. Think of paper cups as nature’s friends; they naturally decompose over time, leaving no nasty residue behind. On the other hand, plastic cups, especially those Styrofoam ones, refuse to play nice and just stick around in the environment.

What's more, paper cups are crafted with a conscience, often made with a majority of paper and even cool tech like graphene nano-barriers for waterproofing. Plastic cups, well, they use materials that aren't exactly environmentally friendly. Sure, making paper cups might require a bit more energy, but when you consider their eco-friendliness and quick biodegradation, it’s a worthwhile trade-off. In the environmental race, paper cups emerge victorious with a smaller carbon footprint compared to their plastic rivals.