Foam Cups Vs. Paper Cups
Foam and paper cups can be convenient options for those in need of disposable cups. They are made from different materials and present different environmental concerns, prompting a comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of both types of cup.
Other People Are Reading
-
Polystyrene
-
Polystyrene is a lightweight petroleum-based plastic, commonly referred to as Styrofoam, which is actually the brand name of the the polystyrene product manufactured by the Dow Chemical Company. Polystyrene is commonly used in making disposable cups due to its insulation properties, which help maintain the temperature of the beverage. The insulation of the polystyrene also prevents hot beverages from making cups too hot to hold.
Paper
-
Paper cups are made from bleached virgin paperboard, usually with a wax or polyethylene coating on the inside to prevent the liquid in the cup from seeping through the paper. Paper cups do not have the same insulation properties as polystyrene, so hot beverages can make the cups difficult to hold.
-
Environmental Issues
-
Most recycling plants are not equipped to process paper cups due to the coating inside the cups. When dumped in a landfill, lined paper cups create more carcinogens, carbon dioxide and methane, a greenhouse gas, than polystyrene cups. However, polystyrene is made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource, and the process of creating polystyrene pollutes the air. Few recycling plants have the technology to recycle polystyrene, and it is estimated that it could take hundreds of years for polystyrene to biodegrade.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Closeup of a coffee cup on a desk image by viking65001 from Fotolia.com
