Consumer demands are changing, especially when it comes to sustainable packaging. Unfortunately, for the environment, single-use cups cause more harm than good. Plus, with single-use plastic bans rolling out in many regions, manufacturers are moving toward more sustainable packaging solutions. That's where aqueous cups come in.
Read on to learn more about aqueous coffee cups, what an aqueous coating is, and how it works.
What is aqueous coating?
Aqueous coatings are water-based solutions that are applied to the inner surface of paper products to make them watertight and durable. They are made by submerging synthetic polymers or latex in water and then applying the mixture to the paper. Once the water evaporates, it leaves behind a thin layer of polymers that adhere to the paper fibres to create a barrier that prevents liquid from seeping through.
Aqueous coffee cups are made using this water-based coating. Aqueous coatings generally contain fewer polymers compared to traditional plastic-lined cups and some aqueous coatings are also able to be certified as home compostable to Australian standards (AS 5810), making them a more sustainable choice. As an added bonus, these coatings normally don't contain any harmful chemicals or toxins and have no intentionally added PFAS.
What is the most sustainable disposable cup?
At this stage, aqueous coffee cups are among the most sustainable packaging solutions on the market when it comes to disposable cups. Although aqueous cups aren't plastic-free, the aqueous solution that they're coated with contains far fewer plastics than alternative packaging options. Aqueous cups can also be certified to be home compostable to AS 5810, which provides an excellent end-of-life solution. Good home compostable cups display the home compostable certification logo so you can easily identify them yourself.
Why choose aqueous-coated cups?
Our cups are aqueous coated and beneficial to the environment. At Packmold, we use aqueous coating across our product range—we do not use PE (polyethylene) coating. Aqueous-coated packaging is reliable and effective, and can be home compostable to Australian Standards (AS 5810), meaning materials can fully decompose through biological processes in conditions you can create in a home composting system.
With growing legislation around single-use plastics, it's important for businesses that rely on disposable cups to transition to a more sustainable option, like aqueous coffee cups.
At Packmold, we're committed to sustainable packaging alternatives. Embrace sustainable packaging with our aqueous-coated paper cups—designed for performance and a lower environmental footprint.