Do plastic-lined paper cups release microplastics into hot beverages?
Avoid using plastic-lined disposable cups as your daily hot-drink container. Heat and liquid contact make glass or ceramic the better routine choice.
Short answer
Avoid making plastic-lined disposable cups your daily hot-drink container.
Most paper coffee cups are not just paper. They often include a thin plastic lining that helps the cup hold liquid.
What the concern is
Hot coffee or tea sits against that lining. One emergency cup is not the same as a daily habit, but repeated hot contact is easy to reduce.
What the research says
A 2026 Food Chemistry and Toxicology study found that the inner film of disposable paper cups was high-density polyethylene and changed structure after 15 minutes of hot beverage contact. The study also observed microplastics, zinc, aluminum, ammonium, and chloride migrating into the hot beverage.
A 2026 Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B study tested polyethylene and polystyrene beverage cups and found phthalates, bisphenols, photoinitiators, and 2 perfluorinated compounds in cup samples.
A 2023 Toxics study simulated food-use scenarios and observed nanoplastic release from several plastic packaging materials under hot-water or high-temperature conditions.
What to do instead
Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel for regular coffee and tea. Do not reheat drinks in disposable lined cups. Keep a reusable cup where the habit actually happens.
The research at a glance
What to use instead
For regular hot drinks at home, use glass cups instead of plastic-lined disposable paper cups.
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