Over 500 billion disposable coffee cups are trashed everywhere — 2026-05-09

## Short Segments Today, we're diving into a groundbreaking innovation that could transform your daily coffee ritual. Later, we'll explore how a seaweed-based coffee cup aims to tackle the massive waste problem caused by disposable cups. Stay tuned for the details on this promising development. ## Feature Story Over 500 billion disposable coffee cups are trashed worldwide each year, and a new innovation hopes to change that. Notpla, a UK-based sustainable packaging company, is developing a coffee cup lined with seaweed instead of conventional plastic. This innovation addresses a significant environmental challenge: the plastic lining in most disposable cups makes them difficult to recycle, contributing to the global plastic waste crisis. The scale of the problem is immense. According to the UN Environment's report on single-use plastics, over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually, with packaging accounting for 36% of this total. While most of this waste is generated in Asia, the US, Japan, and the European Union produce the most plastic packaging waste per person. The traditional plastic-lined coffee cups are a significant part of this issue, as they are often discarded after a single use. Notpla's seaweed-based cup was first publicly trialed during the Earthshot Prize Week in Rio de Janeiro in October 2025. Although it wasn't a commercial launch, this Gen 1 espresso cup marked a meaningful step in the journey to eliminate hidden plastics from everyday single-use items. The trial demonstrated the potential of seaweed as a viable alternative to plastic linings, offering a solution that is both plastic-free and home-compostable. The European Union has recognized the potential of this innovation, awarding Notpla and its consortium of 14 partners a €4 million grant from the Horizon Europe research and innovation program. This funding will support the development of the next generation of plastic-free coffee cups, furthering the goal of reducing plastic waste. Seaweed offers several advantages as a material for disposable cups. It is abundant, renewable, and biodegradable, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. By using seaweed, Notpla aims to create a cup that can break down naturally, reducing the environmental impact of disposable cups. The implications of this development are significant. If successful, seaweed-based cups could become a standard in the coffee industry, drastically reducing the number of plastic-lined cups that end up in landfills. This innovation could also inspire further research and development in sustainable packaging solutions, encouraging other companies to explore alternative materials. As the world grapples with the challenges of plastic waste, innovations like Notpla's seaweed cup offer a glimpse of hope. By rethinking the materials used in everyday products, we can move towards a more sustainable future. The journey is just beginning, but the potential impact is enormous. Keep an eye on Notpla and its partners as they continue to develop and refine this promising technology. The success of the seaweed cup could pave the way for a new era of sustainable packaging, reducing our reliance on plastic and helping to protect the environment for future generations.