Cold Drink Cups

The cold drink cup is produced in a very simialr manner to the coffee cup, except that it is often a larger cup.

As the cup is intended for use with cold (frequently chilled or iced) drinks, there is a tendency for condensation to form on the exterior surface of the cup. If the condensation were allowed to be absorbed into the paper layer, the cup would lose its rigidity and become soft and difficult to hold. To prevent this, a second layer of polyethylene is applied to the outside surface of the cup making that surface waterproof as well.

The extra layer of polyethylene slightly reduces the percentage of fibre that can be recovered (down to about 90%) and increases the amount of polyethylene used (to about 10%), but these can still be recycled where facilities exist.

Some companies have experimented with alternative materials for the outer layer (either significantly reducing the thickness of the polyethylene or using a coated layer), but the majority of cups have the same polyethylene on both interior (in contact with the beverage) and exterior (in contact with the air) surfaces.