Serve samples, portions, and tastings without the environmental guilt. These compostable 3 oz cups are manufactured from PLA (polylactic acid) — a plant-based bioplastic derived from corn starch — and break down completely in commercial composting facilities in under 180 days. Crystal-clear and heavy-duty, they deliver the look and performance of conventional plastic while meeting ASTM D6400 compostability standards. SAYRU® compostable 3 oz PLA cold cups are CMA, TUV OK Industrial, and USDA BioPreferred certified, making them one of the most thoroughly vetted small-format compostable cups available for foodservice operations.

Features That Solve Real Operational Problems

Plant-Based PLA Material — Not Petroleum

Traditional portion cups are made from petroleum-based plastics that persist in landfills for centuries. These cups use PLA derived from corn starch, a annually renewable resource. The result is a cup that looks and feels identical to conventional clear plastic — your customers get the same premium presentation — but one that returns to the earth through commercial composting instead of lingering in a landfill. For businesses facing mounting pressure from consumers and regulators to ditch single-use petroleum plastics, this is a direct, drop-in solution that requires zero workflow changes.

Heavy-Duty Construction — No Cracking, No Collapsing

Flimsy portion cups crack under pressure, leak on trays, and frustrate staff during service. These cups feature a heavy-duty build designed to hold up during transport, stacking, and handling. Whether you’re pre-portioning condiments for a catering run or lining up tasting samples at a festival booth, the structural integrity stays intact from prep to service.

Freezer and Refrigerator Safe

Need to prep portions in advance and store them cold? These PLA cups handle refrigeration and freezing without warping or cracking. Pre-fill with yogurt parfait layers, pudding, overnight chia cups, or frozen dessert samples — pull them out when you’re ready to serve. This makes large-scale event prep and grab-and-go retail programs far more efficient.

No Added PFAS

PFAS — sometimes called “forever chemicals” — are under intense regulatory scrutiny across the United States and globally. These cups are manufactured with no added PFAS, so you can serve with confidence that you’re not introducing these persistent chemicals into your food or your waste stream. For operators in states with PFAS bans on food packaging, this is a compliance safeguard built right in.

Gluten Free

Despite being derived from corn, these PLA cups are gluten free. This matters for food-allergen-conscious operations — from hospital food services to school nutrition programs — where every material that contacts food must be evaluated for allergen risk.

Crystal-Clear Visibility

PLA delivers the optical clarity of conventional plastic. Customers see the product inside — vibrant sauces, layered desserts, colorful tasting portions — which drives higher engagement at sampling stations and better presentation at catered events.

Commercially Compostable in Under 180 Days

When sent to a commercial composting facility, these cups break down completely into natural elements in fewer than 180 days, leaving no toxic residue. This meets ASTM D6400 standards for compostability. For venues and operators running zero-waste programs or diverting waste from landfill, this product integrates directly into existing commercial compost streams.

Product Specifications

Specification	Detail
Capacity	3 oz
Material	PLA (Polylactic Acid) — corn-based bioplastic
Cup Length	2.4 in (61 mm)
Cup Width	2.4 in (61 mm)
Cup Height	2.3 in (58.4 mm)
Temperature Suitability	Cold liquids and foods only (PLA softens above 105 °F)
Storage	Refrigerator and freezer safe; store out of direct sunlight
PFAS	No added PFAS
Allergen Info	Gluten free
Compostability	Commercially compostable in under 180 days
Case Quantity	2,500 cups
Case Weight	17.2 lb
Case Dimensions	22.4 × 10.2 × 12.6 in (570 × 260 × 320 mm)
Packaging	Recyclable paperboard and polyolefin plastic wrap

Certifications & Compliance

• CMA (Compost Manufacturing Alliance) Certified — This certification means the product has been field-tested in real commercial composting facilities and confirmed to break down properly. It goes beyond lab testing and gives composters confidence to accept the material.
• TUV OK Industrial Compost Certified — An internationally recognized, third-party certification verifying that the product meets rigorous industrial compostability standards under European testing protocols. This signals credibility to global buyers.
• USDA BioPreferred — Confirms the product contains a verified percentage of bio-based (plant-derived) content. This certification is often required for federal procurement and signals genuine renewable-material sourcing.
• ASTM D6400 Compliant — The U.S. standard for compostability of plastics. Products meeting ASTM D6400 are verified to disintegrate, biodegrade, and have no ecotoxic effect on the resulting compost.

Applications & Use Cases

A 3 oz compostable cup is one of the most versatile small-format foodservice items available. Below are the industries and scenarios where these cups solve specific, everyday pain points.

Restaurants & Fast Casual

Portion cups hold condiments like salsa, dressing, soy sauce, and guacamole on the side. Restaurants that package sauces in petroleum-plastic cups face customer pushback and regulatory risk in jurisdictions with single-use plastic bans. These PLA cups replace conventional ramekins in takeout and delivery bags without any change to existing portioning workflows.

Cafés & Coffee Shops

Offer syrup samples, small cold brew tastings, or creamer portions in a cup that aligns with the sustainability branding most cafés already promote. Replacing plastic sample cups with compostable PLA closes a credibility gap that eco-aware consumers notice.

Wine, Beer & Spirits Tastings

At 3 oz, these cups are purpose-built for beverage sampling. Wine bars, craft breweries, distillery tours, and tasting-room events need a cup that’s small, clear, and disposable in high volumes. Compostable PLA lets venues run tastings with zero-waste composting programs intact — no more sorting plastic cups out of the compost stream.

Catering & Event Services

Pre-portioned desserts, shooter-style appetizers, and condiment cups are staples at catered events. Caterers handling weddings, galas, and corporate dinners need cups that look polished and don’t crack during transport. Heavy-duty PLA construction and crystal-clear aesthetics deliver on both counts, while compostability simplifies post-event waste diversion.

Food Trucks & Street Food Vendors

Space is limited, waste sorting is difficult, and customers expect speed. A compostable portion cup that stacks neatly, holds up on a moving truck, and can be tossed into a single compost bin streamlines the entire operation.

Corporate Cafeterias & Co-Working Space Pantries

Wellness-focused office environments increasingly audit the sustainability of their foodservice disposables. Swapping petroleum-plastic portion cups for PLA demonstrates measurable ESG progress and satisfies employee sustainability expectations — especially in tech, consulting, and B-Corp office cultures.

School Nutrition & University Dining Programs

Schools use portion cups for dressings, fruit cups, and snack servings. Gluten-free and PFAS-free attributes matter here because institutional buyers are under strict allergen and chemical-safety procurement guidelines. Compostability also supports campus zero-waste pledges.

Hospital & Healthcare Food Services

Patient meal trays routinely include portion cups for medications, condiments, and liquid supplements. A gluten-free, PFAS-free, compostable option satisfies the heightened safety and environmental standards of healthcare procurement departments.

Farmers’ Markets & Outdoor Festivals

Vendors offering samples of honey, jam, salsa, or cheese dip need small disposable cups at high volume. Outdoor events increasingly mandate compostable serviceware. These cups are CMA-certified, which means composters will actually accept them — a critical distinction from products that claim compostability without facility-tested proof.

Grocery Deli & In-Store Sampling

Grocery store sample stations go through thousands of small cups per week. PLA’s clarity showcases the product inside, driving trial and purchase, while compostability supports the sustainability programs major grocery chains are rolling out.

Meal Kit Delivery & Ghost Kitchens

Pre-portioned sauces and dressings in 3 oz cups travel inside meal kit boxes. These cups withstand refrigeration during transit and won’t crack under the weight of other items, reducing mess and customer complaints. Compostable packaging is also a selling point that meal kit brands highlight in marketing.

Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Shops

Sample scoops and mini dessert portions fit perfectly in a 3 oz format. Freezer-safe PLA holds up in a freezer case or when served tableside, and the clear wall lets customers see the product — important for flavor selection.

Hotel Room Service & Airline Catering

Condiment cups on room-service trays and airline meal trays are used once and discarded. Hotels and airlines reporting on sustainability metrics can swap to compostable PLA at this small format with virtually no cost impact on the overall tray setup.

Stadium & Venue Concessions

Large venues serving tens of thousands of guests per event generate massive volumes of single-use waste. A compostable 3 oz cup for condiments and sauce portions integrates with venue-wide composting infrastructure and helps meet municipal diversion mandates.

Compostable PLA vs. Traditional Plastic Cups

Attribute	Compostable PLA Cup	Conventional Plastic Cup
Raw Material	Corn starch (renewable, plant-based)	Petroleum (non-renewable, fossil fuel)
End of Life	Breaks down in commercial compost in under 180 days	Persists in landfills for hundreds of years
Toxic Residue	None — decomposes into natural elements	Can leach microplastics and chemicals
PFAS	No added PFAS	May contain PFAS depending on manufacturer
Clarity	Crystal clear — comparable to plastic	Clear
Certifications	CMA, TUV, USDA BioPreferred, ASTM D6400	Typically none for compostability
Regulatory Compliance	Meets single-use plastic bans in many jurisdictions	Increasingly banned or restricted

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these 3 oz PLA cups be used for hot beverages?

No. PLA is a cold-use material that begins to soften at 105 °F. These cups are designed for cold liquids, refrigerated items, and frozen applications only. Store them away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

Are these compostable cups truly accepted at composting facilities?

Yes. These cups carry CMA (Compost Manufacturing Alliance) certification, which means they have been field-tested and verified to break down in real commercial composting operations — not just in a lab. They also meet ASTM D6400 standards. Acceptance depends on your local facility, but CMA certification is the strongest signal a composter can look for.

Are these cups safe for people with gluten allergies?

Yes. Although the PLA is derived from corn starch, the finished cups are gluten free, making them suitable for allergen-sensitive foodservice environments.

Do these cups contain PFAS or other “forever chemicals”?

No. These cups are manufactured with no added PFAS, meeting the growing regulatory and consumer demand for PFAS-free food packaging.

Can I refrigerate or freeze food in these cups?

Absolutely. These PLA cups are designed to withstand both refrigerator and freezer temperatures, making them ideal for pre-portioned desserts, yogurt cups, frozen samples, and make-ahead catering prep.

How many cups come in a case?

Each case contains 2,500 cups. The case weighs 17.2 lb and measures 22.4 × 10.2 × 12.6 inches.

What certifications do these cups hold?

They are CMA Certified, TUV OK Industrial Compost Certified, USDA BioPreferred, and compliant with ASTM D6400 — covering compostability, bio-based content, and environmental safety across both U.S. and international standards.

How long do these cups take to compost?

In a commercial composting facility, these cups break down in under 180 days, leaving no toxic residue behind.

Is there a matching lid available?

Yes. A flat no-hole compostable lid is available to fit these 3 oz cups, ideal for portion cups containing sauces, dressings, or desserts that need a secure cover during transport or display.

Will these cups comply with local single-use plastic bans?

Because they are made from plant-based PLA — not petroleum plastic — and carry certified compostability credentials, these cups meet the requirements of most single-use plastic bans and sustainable packaging mandates in effect across the United States. Always verify your specific local regulations.