Sustainable 9 oz Cold Cups for Foodservice and Catering
Foodservice operators in 2026 are working through three converging pressures at once: state-level PFAS bans, foam-container bans, and procurement teams asking for verifiable sustainability documentation. These 9 oz compostable cold cups solve all three in a single SKU. Dense unbleached plant fiber is naturally oil and grease resistant — no synthetic coating, and the build is certified compostable end-to-end so there is no plastic to separate at the back of house.
Each case ships 2000 units, with 24 cases per pallet for 48,000 units per pallet — sized for catering, school dining, hospital foodservice, hotel banquets, and operators transitioning out of foam.
Buyers and use cases this product fits
- Catering and event foodservice — single-portion service for boxed lunches, banquet plating, or buffet line setup.
- Quick-service restaurants and cafes — single-portion entrées, sides, salads, fruit cups, parfaits.
- K-12 cafeterias and university dining — meets PFAS-free procurement requirements many state school systems now mandate.
- Meal-prep and ready-meal brands — freezer safe; meal-prep ready.
- Hospital and senior-living foodservice — microwave-safe so kitchen staff can plate, deliver, and reheat in the same container.
- Bakeries and delis — pastries, sandwiches, grab-and-go assemblies.
What this container is built to replace
1. Foam container bans without a true replacement
Polystyrene foam was the workhorse of school cafeterias and quick-service venues for decades. Foam is now banned or restricted in 11 U.S. states and over 250 municipalities. Most “alternatives” are PE-coated paperboard (still plastic, still not compostable) or thicker plastic (still landfill). A plant-based compostable container is the only fully sustainable substitute that survives hot food.
2. PFAS food-packaging laws tightening every year
California AB 1200, AB 1201, New York’s Hazardous Packaging Act, and parallel laws in Washington, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Hawaii ban intentionally added PFAS in food packaging. These do not contain added PFAS at any stage of manufacture.
3. Grease resistance without synthetic coatings
Unbleached plant fiber is naturally oil and grease resistant — the barrier is the fiber itself, not a synthetic coating that fails after 30 minutes on the line.
4. Compost contamination at the back of house
Single-material recovery — fully compostable with no plastic film, no wax, and no PFAS to separate from the fiber.
5. Procurement asking for documentation
Buyers with sustainability mandates need certificates: USDA Biobased, ASTM D-6400, FDA food contact, NSF Certified Compostable, TÜV AUSTRIA. All applicable certifications are listed below; lab/cert documents are available on request for B2B accounts.
Detailed product features
- Pla bioplastic construction — plant-based material chosen for this application.
- Hot food safe to 120°F — soups, stews, hot pastas, curries, casseroles, baked dishes.
- Freezer safe — does not embrittle below 0°F; meal-prep ready.
- Oil and grease resistant — barrier is the natural fiber itself, no synthetic coating.
- Composts in 2–4 months in a commercial composting facility (industrial compostable).
- Case of 2000 — sized for catering, school dining, and operator-scale foodservice.
- Gluten-free and allergen-friendly material.
- Clean visual presentation for branded retail or foodservice.
Independent certifications and food-safety standards
- OK compost INDUSTRIAL (TÜV AUSTRIA) — disintegrates and biodegrades in a commercial composting facility within 12 weeks.
- USDA Certified Biobased Product (U.S. Department of Agriculture) — verified renewable plant content; eligible under federal BioPreferred procurement programs.
- NSF Certified Compostable (NSF International) — independent third-party verification of compostability claims.
At-a-glance spec sheet
| Capacity | 9 oz |
|---|---|
| Material | Pla bioplastic |
| Color | Natural Fiber |
| Heat tolerance | Up to 120°F |
| Freezer safe | Yes |
| Compost timeframe | 2–4 months (commercial); industrial compostable only |
| Quantity per case | 2000 |
| Cases per pallet | 24 (48,000 units per pallet) |
| Case weight | 13.14 lbs |
| SKU | SYR-CC-9-2000 |
Common questions from procurement and operations
How many cold cups fit on a pallet?
Yes. They stack tightly when empty (2000 per case, 24 cases per pallet for 48,000 units per pallet) and stack safely with a lid when filled. The footprint fits standard foodservice slots and delivery bags.
What’s the difference between fiber and PLA compostable foodservice containers?
PLA is a transparent bio-plastic made from corn or sugarcane starch — ideal for cold cups, dome lids, and clear merchandising. Plant fiber is an opaque molded material made from sugarcane bagasse — more rigid and far more heat-tolerant (220°F vs PLA’s 105°F softening point). For hot food and microwave use, fiber is the correct choice. For cold beverages and clear visibility, PLA is the better fit.
What is the maximum hot-food temperature for this cold cup?
Yes. The body is rated for hot food up to 120°F. Hot pastas, curries, soups (with a lid), stews, and baked entrées hold without warping.
How long does the cold cup take to compost?
In a commercial composting facility (ASTM D-6400 conditions), it breaks down in 2 to 4 months. This product is industrial compostable only — it will not meaningfully break down in a backyard compost pile.
Which state PFAS food-packaging laws do these cold cups satisfy?
Yes. Because no PFAS is intentionally added, they comply with California AB 1200 / AB 1201, New York’s Hazardous Packaging Act, and parallel laws in Washington, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Hawaii. Lab test reports are available for B2B accounts on request.
Can these cold cups be used in school cafeterias under sustainable-procurement rules?
Yes. They meet PFAS-free, biobased, and compostable procurement requirements many state school systems now mandate: no added PFAS, TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost INDUSTRIAL, USDA Biobased, ASTM D-6400, NSF Certified Compostable. Documentation is available on request.
