Polypropylene cups, a reusable alternative?

19 / 7 / 2022

You've probably heard about polypropylene and products made from this type of recycled material lately, haven't you? Polypropylene cups, textile products, automotive components, footwear or even food and beverage containers are currently manufactured with this component.

What is polypropylene

Polypropylene is one of the most widely used plastic materials on the market. It is obtained from the polymerization of propylene, a material present in the category of thermoplastics, and characterized by its rigidity, hardness and resistance.

That is why we can find a great variety of polypropylene cups with a reusable approach, light and very resistant, able to provide a long life to the product. The propylene cup made from recycled plastic waste is often used in cultural events, such as music festivals, in celebrations of all kinds or in establishments related to catering.

Impact of polypropylene cups

But what are the disadvantages of reusable polypropylene cups? Their technical characteristics, marked by their very high resistance and durability, make them a new threat to the planet.

This type of cup can be transformed, once again, into plastic waste that is harmful to environmental health and climate change, as they are often abandoned or not properly collected and recycled. Thus, there is a high chance that they will become waste that does not decompose due to the inability of the material to biodegrade.

Advantages and disadvantages of polypropylene cups

It is true that this type of polypropylene cups help to give a second life to a large amount of existing plastic waste. But its great advantage, in turn, is its great problem, because they do not decompose naturally and it is important to make a controlled use of the product.

vaso polipropileno

Unlike a polypropylene cup, Ecogots reusable cups are fully biodegradable, solving the main danger of propylene cups: generating new plastic waste that is much more resistant and durable than conventional plastics.

How long does it take for a polypropylene cup to degrade?

And therein lies the main point of a polypropylene cup: it does not degrade. For this reason, polypropylene cups should only be used if we are willing to recycle them in the yellow garbage cans.

We cannot afford to dispose of them in forests or seas, as we would be making a negative contribution to the well-being of our planet. At events, it is very easy for them to be thrown in the wrong container or to be forgotten in the environment.

When in doubt, it is always better to opt for sustainable materials, but also biodegradable. That is why at Ecogots we manufacture a product based on 60% rice husk and 40% biodegradable polymers, responsible for activating, after two years of life, a degradation process through air, light and moisture.

In this way, we ensure the elimination of any type of residue or microbeads capable of polluting our planet or harming our own health.

Elisabet Zaragoza
Written by:
Elisabet Zaragoza
Co-founder of Ecogots. My tasks are closely related to the management and organisation of both orders and workers.

I also coordinate the purchase of material, payment forecasts, revision of rates... more administrative tasks.

I also attend lectures, conferences and Ecogots meetings.

Acknowledgements and certifications

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