Clearer guidance for your daily cup.

Aqueous-coated paper cups with practical material information and disposal guidance to support better choices after use.

Clearer guidance for your daily cup.

Aqueous-coated paper cups with practical material information and disposal guidance to support better choices after use.

Our Principles

01True

True

Clear material information.

The range is supported by factual information on materials, coating and disposal routes, so customers can understand what they are choosing.

Where outcomes depend on local collection, recycling or composting infrastructure, the guidance explains that clearly.

02Simple

Simple

Practical guidance, written plainly.

Material and disposal information is kept straightforward, with simple explanations for cafés, caterers, operators and customers.

The aim is to make the next step easier to understand, whether that means cup recycling, composting where accepted, or general waste where no specialist route is available.

03Responsible

Responsible

Designed around real-world disposal.

The range is designed with current waste systems in mind, focusing on practical routes that can be used today where the right facilities are available.

Responsible choices depend on both the product and the disposal route, so the cup is supported by guidance at the point of disposal.

Better choices start with clearer information.

Practical guidance on materials, disposal routes and what happens after use.

Learning Hub

Practical guidance for your cup.

The Aqueous
Difference.

Aqueous coating uses less polymer than traditional PE and PLA linings, and is applied differently to the paper surface.

Lower Polymer Use

A reduced polymer content compared with traditional cup linings.

Integrated Coating

A coating approach rather than a separate plastic lining.

Understanding
Material Claims.

Some material claims can be difficult to interpret. Aqueous coatings still contain polymer, so the detail matters.

Polymer Content

Aqueous is lower in polymer, but not polymer-free.

Clear Labelling

The aim is to explain the material plainly.

Paper Cup
Disposal.

The disposal route matters. Cups need the right collection, recycling or composting route to achieve the best available outcome.

Correct Stream

The right bin or collection route makes the difference.

Real Infrastructure

Disposal depends on facilities available locally.

PE, PLA & Aqueous
All Have a Role.

Different linings work in different ways. The right choice depends on product performance, collection routes and disposal infrastructure.

Different Routes

Each material has different disposal considerations.

Better Decisions

Clear information helps match the cup to the right setting.

HONEST™ • TRUE • SIMPLE • RESPONSIBLE

Material information.
Practical disposal guidance.

HONEST™ cups use an aqueous coating with lower polymer content than traditional PE and PLA linings, supported by clear guidance on disposal routes where available after use.

End-User Disposal Guidance

Walking Down the Street.

Three simple steps to help choose the most suitable route after use.

Person holding an HONEST cup on a city street

Empty the Cup

Make sure the cup is empty. No need to wash. Just ensure no liquid remains before disposal.

Check Availability

Route A: If your site has a dedicated paper cup recycling bin or works with a specialist cup recycling scheme, place the cup in the cup recycling bin. Visit cuprecyclingscheme.co.uk to find collection points.

Route B: If the site has a food waste or composting collection bin in place, place the cup in the composting stream where accepted. The cup is certified home compostable when composted under recognised home composting conditions.

Steps at Home →

General Waste

If no specialist cup recycling or composting is available, use general waste. This helps avoid contaminating other recycling streams. When in doubt, don't guess.

Residential Disposal Guide

Steps at Home.

Council Food Waste

Check your local rules to see if they accept EN 13432 certified materials in food waste bins. Every council uses different processing facilities.

Find your council →

Home Composting

Certified home compostable when composted under recognised home composting conditions. Tear the cup into small pieces to support the composting process.

Certification aligns with DIN CERTCO NF T51-800.

Composting tips →

Recycling Locator

Unsure about your local collection? Use the national locator to check nearby recycling options and avoid placing cups in the wrong stream.

Recycling Locator →

FAQ

Common questions, clear answers.

HONEST™ is a range of aqueous-coated paper cups designed around three principles: True, Simple, and Responsible. The range is supported by material information and disposal guidance to help customers understand the cup and the routes available after use.

Every paper hot cup needs a liquid sealing layer to hold drinks without leaking. Traditional cups use a PE or PLA lining bonded to the inside of the cup.

Aqueous coating takes a different approach. Instead of a separate plastic lining, it is applied as a coating that integrates with the paper surface. This reduces polymer content compared with traditional linings, while still providing a liquid barrier.

No. Aqueous cups still contain a small amount of polymer, so they should not be treated as polymer-free.

The key difference is that aqueous coating uses significantly less polymer than traditional PE or PLA-lined alternatives. The cup still needs the right disposal route after use.

Yes, when collected through the correct cup recycling route. Paper cups usually require specialist processing, so they are not always suitable for standard kerbside recycling.

For businesses, a dedicated cup recycling scheme or on-site collection point is usually the best route where available.

HONEST™ aqueous cups are designed for both home composting and commercial composting where the right conditions and facilities are available.Honest Cup's certification aligns with DIN Certco NF T51-800.

Correct disposal should always come first. If a suitable composting stream is available, use that route. If not, check local guidance before placing cups into food waste or composting bins.

PE is a traditional plastic lining commonly used in paper cups. It is widely used and can be handled through specialist cup recycling routes.

PLA is a plant-based polymer lining, often made from materials such as corn or sugarcane. It is generally designed for industrial composting where the right facility is available.

Aqueous coating is a lower-polymer coating approach that integrates with the paper surface. The best route still depends on the waste stream available after use.

Not usually. Most household recycling collections in the UK are not set up to handle paper cups, regardless of the lining.

The preferred options are specialist cup collection schemes, on-site recycling points, or suitable composting routes where accepted. If none are available, general waste may be the better option to avoid contaminating other recycling streams.

Waste infrastructure is managed locally, and different councils and commercial sites use different collection and processing routes.

This means the best disposal route can vary by location. The aim of the guidance is to help customers check what is available and choose the most suitable route after use.

Clearer guidance for your daily cup.

Clearer guidance for your daily cup.

True

Simple

Responsible