Paper cups are used in most of the places including Restaurants, Wedding & other functions, Hospitals, Commercial establishments, schools, offices, Canteens and so forth. In comparison to the Porcelain, Plastic, Styrofoam & metal cups, Paper cups have distinct advantages.
The use of paper cups began in 1907 with Lawrence Luellen's invention of the Dixie Cup. Paper cups remained the staple for disposable cups until the 1970s, when Solo Cups introduced its signature red cup. Today, both paper and plastic cups are ubiquitous.
The disposable cup has come a long way since the first paper cup made its debut a century ago. Both disposable paper and plastic cups offer the convenience of on-the-go consumption without the worry of cleanup. In addition, they help conserve water by eliminating the need for washing / cleaning.
Paper cups were popularized in 1918 during the American influenza epidemic. The cups were used by a large number of people to avoid infections. It was mainly used to promote public hygiene. Although these cups are available in different varieties, the two most common varieties include the cups used for cold drinks such as milk and sodas and cups used for hot beverages such as tea and coffee. These cups are produced from food grade paper board which is laminated with a thin LDPE film.
Extensive changes in the manufacturing of paper and plastic have occurred over the past few decades. Environmental Protection Agency figures indicate that paper manufacturing has increased by nearly 300 percent from 1960 to 2007. The data for plastics present an even more startling contrast, with plastic generation increasing more than 7,000 percent during the same time period. More than 1 million tons of paper generated in 2007 consisted of paper cups and plates, virtually all of which were discarded. More than 800,000 tons of plastic cups and plates were generated that same year, with most ending up in the trash.
There are many disposable cups that are available in different materials. Plastic, Styrofoam, and paper cups are all good choices when one is on the go. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages; one may be more thermal, whereas one may be more expensive. Another may have a quicker decomposition rate, whereas one doesn't even biodegrade. Though the cups may serve the same purpose, they are very different.
First choice when you think of a disposable cup is paper cups. Long ago, there were no drinking fountains in public places. There were only barrels that people had to drink out of using a stationary glass. Lawrence Luellen and Hugh Moore thought this act was unsanitary. They wanted to allow people to drink fresh water freely that were free of germs. Moore and Lullen decided to use paper cups to make clean water available to thirsty people in public which led to the development of the first paper cup in 1907. Though at first, it seemed like a fluke, paper cups are widely used in almost any situation.
There are many advantages of using paper cups over plastic and Styrofoam. First off, paper is microwave safe. It is made from natural trees with little foreign material added so it is the least complex material we use. Crumpling is easiest with paper, which makes it more compactable. Due to its natural state, it is also the cleanest and fastest biodegradable material of the three. This is very good for the environment.
Paper is the leading material that ends up as solid waste. Fortunately, not including yard waste, paper is the fastest decomposing material that ends up as waste. It is also the most easy to recycle. By simply mixing water and grinding up paper, a pulp can be made witch can be added with other materials to make all paper materials. This is because paper is made of natural trees. Certain trees have either smooth or rough cellulose fibers. By using different mixing ratios, any type of paper that is desired can be made. Because they were once trees, paper cups or any other paper product decompose in the environment in the shortest amount of time and therefore, should be used more compared to plastic and Styrofoam cups.
Some of the most important benefits of using these disposable cups are elaborated below.
As these cups are basically made of disposable material, it decomposes quite easily. It is also easy to recycle this material. Moreover, it is easy to crumple these disposable cups compared to the plastic cups. Hence it is Eco Friendly product.
Biodegradable meaning they break down over a period without harming the environment. The product is capable of being decomposed by the action of biological agents, especially bacteria. Material that is left to itself will be decomposed by natural processes. The use of biodegradable packaging is supposed to reduce the volume of waste in landfills. It is made of natural trees and so it does not contain any toxic element. Plastic cups, however, don't degrade for many years. Because of the significant volume of cups produced, the impact on landfills is also a concern.
These disposable cups are recyclable. A pulp can be made with a mixture of paper and water. This pulp can be used to manufacture paper board once again.
Compared to the plastic and Styrofoam cups, these cups are safe to use while consuming hot and cold beverages.
These cups are available in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. It is also available in different designs. Moreover, these cups can be disposed quite easily.
Most of the people prefer to use these cups as it is light in weight. It can therefore be carried around quite easily.
Different types of beverage dispensers/vending machines are used in hospitals, restaurants and offices that help to store and dispense beverages. These dispensers are available in different varieties.
Both paper and plastic cups can be made from recycled materials, making them a better option for the environment. Recycled materials save energy by eliminating the need to obtain raw materials. Recycling also reduces the amount of waste in landfills. Despite the availability of recycling options, neither paper nor plastic cups typically are recycled. For the consumer, plastic and paper cups offer savings as well as convenience. When purchased in bulk, disposable cups cost pennies each. Rather than risk of breaking in mugs or glasses when you're eating on the go, you can use a plastic or paper cup.