CEAMSA joins European innovation project to develop plastic-free coffee cups

Led by Notpla and supported by Horizon Europe, the initiative brings together 14 partners to transform disposable coffee cups through natural, compostable solutions

CEAMSA is taking part in a new European collaborative project led by Notpla, working alongside a consortium of 14 partners spanning the entire value chain. The initiative aims to develop a new generation of plastic-free, home-compostable coffee cups capable of meeting the performance and usability demands of real-world use.

The project has been granted €4 million in funding under the Horizon Europe programme, highlighting its strategic relevance in addressing one of the most persistent challenges in the packaging and foodservice sectors.

CEAMSA’s role in the project

CEAMSA contributes its long-standing expertise in natural and bio-based materials, supporting the development of solutions that combine high performance with environmental responsibility. Our contribution focuses on enabling materials that are:

• Free from plastic coatings
• Designed for compostability and circularity
• Suitable for safe food contact applications
• Scalable for industrial manufacturing

This collaboration reinforces CEAMSA’s commitment to sustainable innovation and to advancing packaging solutions that reduce environmental impact without compromising functionality.

Tackling the global impact of single-use coffee cups

Worldwide, an estimated 500 billion single-use cups are discarded each year. The majority are lined with plastic, making them difficult to recycle and contributing significantly to microplastic pollution and waste management challenges.

This European partnership aims to challenge this trend by demonstrating that natural materials can deliver high-performance alternatives to conventional plastic-lined cups, while supporting safer and genuinely circular end-of-life outcomes.

Project focus and next milestones

In its initial phase, the consortium will focus on:

• Developing a complete range of coffee cups for different beverage formats
• Testing and refining natural material formulations
• Scaling production processes for commercial viability
• Conducting end-of-life, compostability and full lifecycle assessments

By following a lifecycle-driven approach, the project aims to deliver solutions that are circular by design, from raw material sourcing through to disposal.

A strong European partnership

The project brings together a diverse group of companies, research centres and academic institutions across Europe.

Project partners include:

CEAMSA, TomaPaint, AIMPLAS · Technological Institute of Plastics, Polytechs, Walki Group, Compass Group UK & Ireland, University of Ferrara, UCL, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), Linköping University, Plastic Punch, Funditec, RAIZ (The Navigator Company).

Learn more

Further insights into the project’s vision, scope and next steps are available in the following articles:

• Packaging Insights – Notpla EU plastic-free coffee cups project

• Green Queen – Notpla seaweed packaging and disposable coffee cups funding

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.