Paper pint cups are emerging as one of the most practical and sustainable alternatives to plastic drinkware at UK events.
With millions of disposable cups used across the UK every year, switching to sustainable pint cups can significantly reduce waste and support national net-zero goals. According to the Office for National Statistics, 57% of UK adults say climate change is an important issue, and festivals and venues that take action often see a boost in both environmental credentials and customer trust.
So, what makes paper pint cups more sustainable, and how do they compare to other eco-friendly options on the market?
Why should festivals & venues be thinking about sustainability?
Looking at the wider global population, 80% of people said that they felt their countries needed to do more to combat climate change (People’s Climate Vote 2024). With such a high percentage expressing concern, it’s clear that businesses across all sectors—including hospitality and events—need to take action.
With such a high percentage of the population expressing concern over climate change, it’s a no-brainer that businesses across all sectors need to consider how they can boost their environmental credentials. While these steps should be primarily taken to help the planet, it can also help to boost customer trust with your brand and encourage people to support your business.
✅ Key Takeaway: Public concern around climate change is high, and adopting sustainable practices helps both the planet and brand trust.
Are paper pint cups more sustainable than plastic cups?
Reusable polycarbonate pint glasses are certainly an option to explore, but they risk being discarded and are not compostable. However, event organisers can recycle polycarbonate glassware and can collect it as part of a closed-loop system at their event.
Paper cups can be considered a better single-use choice, but their sustainability credentials depend on the lining:
- PE lining: difficult to recycle.
- PLA lining: contaminates recycling, needs industrial composting.
- No lining: recyclable, but prone to leakage.
- Aqueous lining: made from a water-based solution that has a reduced plastic content, however, not plastic free.
✅ Key Takeaway: Not all paper cups are equal — aqueous-lined paper pint cups can be a preferred option compared to some.
Is there a better paper pint option on the market?
If you’re searching for alternatives to PE and PLA lined paper cups, consider choosing aqueous lined products. Aqueous lining uses a water-based coating to create a leak-resistant barrier. They contain far less plastic than PE or PLA-lined products and break down more easily.
✅ Key Takeaway: Aqueous-lined paper pint cups are a more sustainable disposable pint cup available for UK events compared to PE and PLA lined products.
Where can I get aqueous lined paper pint cups?
As a leading supplier of food and drink packaging, Stephensons has aqueous-lined paper pint cups available. They feature a cellulose window so that customers can see they’re getting a full pint, and bar staff can measure accurately and see the drink inside. They’re 99.6% plastic-free, with UKCA and CE marking, and full pint-to-brim capacity. They are recyclable, compostable, and manufactured in the UK.
Alternatively, we also offer an aqueous lined paper pint cup that is made from FSC certified material, is UKCA and CE marked, with a cellulose window and pint-to-line for accurate measurement.
We always recommend checking with your local waste provider to check their capabilities regarding recycling and composting.
✅ Key Takeaway: Aqueous-lined pint cups with cellulose windows and UKCA/CE approval are widely available in the UK, offering a scalable sustainability solution.
Do event customers prefer paper pint cups?
Another consideration when choosing useful products for your event venue or festival is customer comfort and satisfaction.
A Stephensons survey at a sporting venue showed:
- 68.5% of customers enjoyed drinking from these cups.
- 53.4% said sustainability is important to them.
- Positive feedback praised the cellulose window asnd eco benefits.
This highlights the public expectation for venues to do more for the environment. You can see some of the comments by customers below.
‘We need to change to be more eco-friendly and sustainable.’
‘I loved the window on the cup, knowing you get a full pint!’
‘Nothing more to say, it’s excellent!’
These paper pint cups are perfect for festivals, event venues, sports venues, street food vendors, private outdoor events, and more!
✅ Key Takeaway: Customers welcome paper pint cups—they improve satisfaction while supporting sustainability.
How else can venues & festival organisers be eco-friendly?
Sustainability goes beyond cups. Organisers should:
- Follow DEFRA’s single-use plastics ban guidance (UK law since 2023).
- Partner with waste firms like Biffa, who are trialling cup-tracking systems at UK events.
- Consider broader frameworks like the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s Food Made Good Standard for ongoing sustainability improvements.
There are many ways venues and event organisers can improve their green credentials with eco-friendly practices. It’s not just about selecting green catering supplies like eco pint cups, but how energy efficient your event is, teaming up with environmentally responsible vendors, and calculating your carbon footprint to identify where improvements can be made.
It’s also important the event organisers are aware of their legal obligations when it comes to environmental issues. For example, the DEFRA single-use plastic legislation that came into effect in the UK in 2023. This prohibited the use of plastic products in food and drink packaging that had been designed to only be use once before being discarded. This legislation came into effect to help reduce plastic waste, which is one of the biggest issues across the globe, especially regarding marine eco-systems.
Additionally, event organisers should consider how they can improve their waste management for more effective recycling, and ensuring waste ends up in the correct streams. Teaming up with a reliable waste management provider is part of this, but also looking at how waste can be tracked. UK waste and recycling firm Biffa has recently teamed up barcoding company Domino Printing Sciences to introduce better waste tracking systems for festivals and large events.
These are a few examples to think about, but if you’re interested in learning more about how you can boost your eco-efforts as an operator, we recommend that you look at UKHospitality’s sustainability roadmap for further advice and tips.
✅ Key Takeaway: Eco-friendly pint cups are part of a bigger picture — compliance, waste partnerships, and industry standards strengthen sustainability efforts.
A step in the right direction for sustainability
It can be overwhelming choosing eco-friendly products for your business, especially when you’re trying to balance budgets with your green initiatives. Whilst aqueous lined paper pint cups still contain plastics, this is a much lower percentage than other options on the market.
Choosing to make the switch to aqueous lined paper cups for your festival or venue is still a step in the right direction if you’re trying to be more sustainable as a business.
✅ Key Takeaway: Switching to aqueous-lined paper pint cups is a simple, effective step towards more sustainable operations.
FAQs
Are paper pint cups recyclable?
✅ Yes — but only aqueous-lined paper pint cups are widely recyclable and compostable.
PE-lined cups are difficult to recycle because the plastic coating must be separated from the paper. PLA-lined cups can contaminate recycling streams and often require industrial composting. Aqueous-lined paper pint cups, like those available from Stephensons, are more widely recyclable and can also be composted, making them one of the most eco-friendly options available.
What is the most sustainable pint cup for festivals?
✅ There are many options, but Aqueous-lined paper pint cups are currently one of the most sustainable single-use option for UK events.
They contain far less plastic than PE or PLA-lined cups, while still being durable and leak-resistant. For some events, reusable polycarbonate cups may be viable through deposit-return schemes, but many organisers prefer paper pint cups for convenience, faster service, and ease of disposal.
How do festivals and venues dispose of paper cups responsibly?
✅ Most festivals use recycling bins and waste contractors to ensure paper pint cups are processed correctly.
Organisers typically provide sign-posted recycling stations, work with waste contractors to transport materials, and may even hire clean-up crews to ensure discarded cups are collected and sorted into the right waste streams. Companies like Biffa are also piloting barcode-tracking systems at UK events to improve recycling accuracy.
Do event customers prefer paper pint cups?
✅ Yes—surveys show customers enjoy using paper pint cups and value their eco benefits.
A Stephensons survey at a UK sporting venue found that 68.5% of attendees enjoyed drinking from aqueous-lined paper cups, and 53.4% said sustainability was important to them. Feedback also highlighted the value of features like the clear cellulose window (for checking a full pint) and the reassurance of choosing a greener option.
