Cup Company Grips Plastic Cups SQ1830 vs Compostable Espresso Cups 120Ml: which is safer?

Vegware Compostable Espresso Cups 120Ml is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Solo Cup Company Grips Plastic Cups SQ1830

Solo

Cup Company Grips Plastic Cups SQ1830

PFAS grade

C 70/100

Overall grade

F 54/100

Verdict

Buy with care

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

polystyrene plastic (PS) with grip coating

Confidence

72%

PossiblePolystyrene monomer and oligomer leaching

PossibleUndisclosed grip-coating additives

PossibleCoating degradation and microplastics

Our pick

Vegware Compostable Espresso Cups 120Ml

Vegware

Compostable Espresso Cups 120Ml

PFAS grade

B 85/100

Overall grade

C 73/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

plant-based coated paperboard (PLA lining)

Confidence

78%

PossibleFormaldehyde or urea-formaldehyde resins in paperboard adhesives

PossiblePLA thermal degradation or monomer leaching

PossibleMicroplastic shedding from PLA coating

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More coffee cups: see the full ranking