Have you ever stopped to think about the material of the disposable cups that you use in your daily life? It is still very common to use items made with plastic at parties, events, or offices.

But environmentally, this choice may not be the best - especially when we think about the single use of the cup. And there are a few reasons. One of them is the fact that the raw material used to produce plastic is not renewable and depends on oil extraction, which, in addition to having significant impacts on the environment, is finite. That is, one day, we will no longer have this feature available.

In addition, although they are recyclable, most plastic materials do not follow the recycling flow. According to United Nations (UN), less than 10% of the 7 billion tons of plastic products generated globally are recycled. The remaining 90% will end up in landfills, incinerators, or in nature, especially rivers and oceans - threatening marine animals, for example, which may die while mistakenly feeding on plastic. UN data warn that, by 2040, we could reach 37 million tons of plastic waste discarded in the waters.

Products made with raw materials from renewable sources, such as cellulose, and that, in addition to being able to be recycled, they also have the capacity to biodegrade and to be compostable are good alternatives to replace plastic materials, such as paper cups - especially those containing biodegradable resin in their composition.

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Get to know the feedstocks used by Suzano and its applications

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Reasons to use the paper cup

“The paper cup can be biodegradable, recyclable and is from a renewable source,” says Dayana Louzada, product and communication manager at Suzano's Papers and Packaging unit. This means that, when not recycled, the paper cup may decompose in certain environments. “A paper cup takes one to two years to biodegrade in water, compared to 400, 500, or even 600 years for plastic, depending on the type,” explains Dayana.

But be careful: this does not mean that paper cups can be discarded without any kind of care. Like any other product, its disposal must be done responsibly and seeking the least possible impact on the environment.

Conscious consumption

Paper cups are excellent options at large scale events, which tend to generate a lot of environmental impact, as they are a hygienic alternative that, with proper disposal, will not accumulate in the environment and degrade much more quickly compared to plastic cups.

“As a consumer, we need to think about cost-benefit - and what comes to mind is the price, but we also need to think about the issue of values,” says Dayana. “Every time we select a product that is not from a renewable source, we are making a choice that will impact our oceans, our seas”.

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In addition to paper for cups, Suzano produces other types of paper, including office and hygiene items. Meet some of them on Supriya, our marketplace.

‍How to choose a more sustainable paper cup

Not every paper cup is the same. For the product to have a responsible origin, it is necessary to pay attention to some details - find out more below.

Search for certified products

The FSC® (C010014) and PEFC (PEFC/28-32-63) forest certifications verify responsible forest management, ensuring compliance with environmental, economic and social issues in forestry activities. These certifications also cover the supply chain and traceability of wood, ensuring good practices and responsible origin, not only environmentally but also socially. On some paper cups and wrappers, these seals are printed.

Pay attention to companies' environmental practices

If you want to learn more about what you consume, you can search for information about the company that manufactures the paper cup you used at an event or restaurant. Try to understand whether the company has good sustainability practices, such as the disclosure of Sustainability Reports, transparency in its indicators, and public commitments to the environment and social development.

Do you want to know paper for cups and packaging made with respect to sustainability and which are alternatives for replacing items of fossil origin? Visit our Papers and Packaging page.
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