Ekoroll has developed a lid-free paper cup for hot and cold drinks, featuring an integrated lid and drinking spout alongside a water-based coating for recyclability and compostability.
Since the Lid-Free Paper Cup’s integrated lid is built directly into the cup wall, consumers are instructed to fold the top of the cup to create a drinking spout and sealed closure. This is set to negate the need for a separate plastic lid and comply with the Single-Use Plastic Directive’s restrictions on plastic lids and coatings across EU Member States.
The design is also hoped to align with upcoming revisions to the Plastic and Plastic Waste Regulation, and to help customers avoid taxation for plastic packaging components.
Furthermore, the cup replaces conventional PE and PLA linings with a water-based coating technology – a move expected to ensure its recyclability in existing paper streams, as well as its compostability under EN13432-certified conditions.
“Most lid-free cups on the market still use PE-coated paper for the cup body,” explained Mahdi Sadough, director of Ekoroll. “Our cup contains zero plastic in the entire structure, not just in the lid. This is a fundamental material difference that matters for distributors and operators building genuinely plastic-free packaging programmes.”
The Lid-Free Paper Cup is available in Hot Cup and Cold Cup varieties. Each claims to be entirely PFAS-free and certified by FSC, SGS, and CE standards.
The Hot Cup is available in 8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz, and 20 oz sizes, while the Cold Cup reportedly comes in standard cold beverage sizes. Both are available for wholesale supply with custom CMYK and flexo printing, including metallic gold and silver finishes.
The Lid-Free Paper Cup is recommended for coffee chains, HORECA operators, distributors, and packaging importers across global export markets, including Europe and the Middle East.
Ekoroll specifies that MOQ starts at 5,000 units for plain orders and 10,000 for custom print. The company offers industrial and graphic design support for customers developing custom cup programmes.
Export-ready production and logistics operate from Izmir, Turkey, and Ekoroll provides EU-compliant documentation for all orders.
The news comes after Ekoroll unveiled a disposable and biodegradable paper ashtray earlier this year. This development sought to simplify cleaning operations for outdoor hospitality while meeting waste reduction requirements.
In other news, Notpla has secured €4 million in funding from Horizon Europe and will lead a three-year R&D programme to develop a disposable coffee cup with a natural, home-compostable coating. The project responds to findings that up to 500 billion single-use cups are used globally every year, with fewer than 1% thought to be recycled in practice.
Mother of Pearl Vodka is also using Frugalpac’s paper bottles to serve alcoholic beverages during live events at Suncorp Stadium. Eventually, the partners aim to distribute low-carbon wine and spirit bottles at the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.
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