All About PP (Polypropylene) Bubble Tea Cups

660ml pp plastic cups

Polypropylene cups, or PP cups, are everywhere. From sporting events and takeaways to your very own boba shop. But what makes them so popular?

Polypropylene Cups

The basics

Polypropylene was invented in 1951 and entered commercial production in 1954. Its strength, durability, and chemical resistance allowed it to expand into packaging, automotive, and consumer goods industries. (Nano, D., source)

Advantages

Polypropylene plastic cups offer reliable, affordable, and safe packaging for food and drinks. They are highly versatile and often recyclable when local systems allow it (British Plastics Federation, source).

In the UK, plastics that contact food and beverages, including PP, must comply with The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations 1998, ensuring safety and no impact on food composition. (legislation.gov.uk)

In short, PP cups are:

  • Made from environmentally friendly materials
  • Durable and safe
  • Easily recyclable

Taipec offers a range of PP cups in 500ml and 700ml sizes, perfect for bulk purchases. The transparent cups let you show off your boba creations, and you can even customise them with your shop’s branding.

The future

The world is changing and it is no secret that the drive to make businesses more sustainable will be a key challenge in the future.

Many people would think paper cups are the most ecological choice, instead of polypropylene plastic cups. However, recycling paper cups is not as straightforward as you might think. The requirement for complete waterproofing and water tightness in paper cups so they can propely serve as a takeaway bubble tea cup means that they require a plastic liner. Polyethylene lining in paper cups require specialised facilities to recycle, which are limited in number. (Evolve Waste Solutions, source) So actually a pp plastic cup is easier to recycle than a waterproofed and water tight paper cup.

What does this mean for me?

You can rest assured that polypropylene cups are here to stay. And as an environmentally conscious boba shop owner you may wish to go further and organise your own cup recycling programme. Contact Taipec today to find out how we can help your boba shop grow.