The disposable cone-shaped paper cup was invented in 1908 by Lawrence Luellen, and in 1912 Luellen and Hugh Moore began marketing the Health Kup, another paper disposable cup. The Health Kup was designed to create a means for people to drink water from public water barrels without spreading germs, which occurred when people would use a common cup or a dipper to hold the water. The Health Kup was later renamed to Dixie Cup, and was named after a brand of dolls. Luellen and Moore later developed a disposable paper ice cream cup, which included lids with images of sportspeople, movie stars and animals.
Commercial uses
Some companies, such as coffee retailers and doughnut shops, sell their products in disposable cups. A 2011 book estimated that a chain of doughnut shops used one billion disposable coffee cups in a year, enough to circle the Earth twice. A 2012 article in OnEarth said that Starbucks used over four billion disposable coffee cups in 2011. The Cup Noodles brand of instant noodles uses expanded polystyrene foam cups to contain the product. Hot or boiling water is added to the dried noodles in the container, which cooks the product in a few minutes. Nissin Foods began marketing the product in foam cups in the early 1970s.
Pollution
The manufacturing of paper cups contributes to water pollution when chemicals such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide and reduced sulfides enter waterways. The manufacturing of foam cups contributes to air pollution when pentane is released into the air. The plastic content in plastic-coated paper cups contributes to the plastic pollution problem, when cups are disposed as litter.
Recycling and other environmental measures
The curbside recycling of polypropylene containers has slowly increased in some developed countries, but is still rather limited. McDonald's switched from foam cups to paper cups in 2014, and is moving to recycle paper cups in the UK, as of 2016, in partnership with Simply Cups and James Cropper.
Alternatives
Several coffee chains offer a discount if the customer brings along their own cup. At festivals such as the Bavarian Oktoberfest, costs due to theft or breakage are avoided without using disposables: The customer pays an upfront fee for a drinking glass or mug and receives a rebate at its return.
