Last time we mentioned that ordinary disposable paper cups are actually not recyclable because they contain polyethylene and are not an environmentally friendly daily necessities. However, although PLA coated paper cups can be fully biodegradable, the higher raw material costs lead to higher prices. In the dilemma of the ban on plastics, manufacturers tried to break the game, so plastic-free paper cups appeared.

The so-called ban on plastics, according to the NDRC and various local documents, prohibits the inclusion of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer ( Disposable plastic products made of non-biodegradable polymer materials such as EVA and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). If I am a paper cup manufacturer and I find a cheap material that can meet the functional requirements of paper cups and is not among the above six non-degradable materials, then the paper cups I made can be called plastic-free paper cups and marketed. NS.

When some manufacturers promote plastic-free paper cups, PLA coated paper cups are also classified as a kind of plastic-free paper cups. But I think that plastic-free paper cups can be roughly divided into two categories.

The coating of the first type of paper cup is non-degradable, but the composition of the coating is not in the non-degradable material catalog banned by the country, so it can still be legally marketed.

The second type of paper cup coating is degradable, such as PLA coated paper cup is one of them.

It is hoped that with the advancement of science and technology, more degradable materials with lower cost can be introduced to achieve both environmental protection and people's livelihood.