• eGreen and Polymateria have developed a new single-serve beverage cup called VeriGreen Plus, made from used cooking oil.
• VerdiGreen Plus cups are carbon-neutral and fully biodegrade in 2 years, leaving behind no toxic materials or microplastics.

Even the most environmentally conscious folks will encounter times when reusable cups are simply impractical or impossible, whether it’s at a stadium or a festival. At large gatherings, beverages are usually served in single-use plastic cups. Likely, thousands of these cups will be used in a single day, and most will end up in a landfill, contributing to the already large heap of plastic in the environment.

But now, eGreen, in partnership with the UK-based polymer materials technology company Polymateria, has developed a new cup, VeriGreen Plus, that is not only fully recyclable but also biodegrades safely, leaving no microplastics or other toxic materials if tossed into the bin with other landfill waste. According to the company, if the cups are not recycled, they “self-destruct” in two years, turning into safe waxy materials. Self-destruction begins after use, when the cups are exposed to heat, light, or moisture, and can take up to two years to fully degrade. VeriGreen cups have a shelf life of three years.