Kraft Paper Cups
Unbleached brown board cups with a plain, unfussy look.
Specification & quotePaper Cups — Paper Cup Materials
Paper Cup Materials and Linings
Every paper cup that holds a liquid has a lining. The board on its own would go soft in minutes, so the interesting question is not whether a cup is lined but with what.
The lining decides how hot a drink can be, how the cup should be disposed of, and what you are allowed to claim on the print.
5 products in this range
Short enquiry
Quote for Paper Cup Materials
Tell us what you serve and roughly how many you need. We reply with a specification, a minimum quantity and a lead time.
Paper Cup Materials We Print
Wax Paper Cups
Wax-lined cups for cold and ambient drinks, not for hot.
Specification & quote
Parchment Paper Cups
Heat-tolerant lined cups for baked and hot-held portions.
Specification & quote
Recyclable Paper Cups
Cups specified for recycling, with realistic guidance on collection.
Specification & quote
Eco-Friendly Paper Cups
Alternative linings and recycled content, with the trade-offs stated.
Specification & quoteLining Choices in Plain Terms
| Conventional PE lining | Alternative linings | |
|---|---|---|
| Heat tolerance | Handles standard hot drink temperatures reliably | Varies by type; PLA in particular has a lower ceiling |
| Disposal | Needs a specialist paper-cup collection stream | Also needs the correct stream — few are accepted in domestic recycling |
| Cost | The established baseline | Generally higher per unit |
| No difference — the lining is on the inside face | No difference | |
| Claims on pack | Straightforward to describe accurately | Wording needs care; claims must match the collection actually available |
Whichever you choose, check what your waste contractor collects before printing a disposal instruction on the cup.
Kraft Is a Look as Well as a Material
Kraft board is unbleached, which is why it is brown. Plenty of independents choose it because it reads as plain and unfussy next to a white cup.
The trade-off is colour accuracy. Print sits over a warm brown base, so blues go muddy and pale tints disappear. Designs made for kraft usually lean on one strong colour and let the board do the rest.
There is more on kraft cups and how artwork behaves on brown board if that look suits your brand.
Paper Cup Materials: Common Questions
Are unlined paper cups available?
For a drink, no — an unlined cup fails quickly. Unlined board is used for dry goods such as popcorn or snack portions, where nothing wet touches the wall.
Which lining should I choose to reduce environmental impact?
It depends less on the cup than on where it ends up. A cup with an alternative lining sent to general waste performs no better than a conventional one. Start by finding out what separate collection you can arrange, then choose the lining that matches it.
Do all paper cups have a lining?
Every cup holding a liquid does. Board alone goes soft within minutes, so the question is which lining rather than whether.
Which lining should we choose?
Start from the collection you can actually arrange, then choose the lining that matches it. The bin decides more than the material.
Does the lining affect print?
No. It is on the inside face, so the printable outer surface behaves the same whichever lining is specified.
Are unlined cups available?
For dry goods such as popcorn and snacks, yes, and they are cheaper and simpler to recycle. Not for anything wet.
Can we get recycled content?
Availability varies by grade and by what is in supply when your job runs. We confirm what is achievable per quote.
Does an alternative lining cost more?
Generally yes. We will price it alongside a conventional specification so the difference is visible rather than assumed.
Will an alternative lining handle hot drinks?
Heat tolerance varies by type and some are lower than conventional. Tell us your service temperature and we will confirm.
Can you supply certification?
What is available depends on the specific stock. We confirm it in writing on your quote rather than claiming it generally.