Pla Bioplastic 4 oz Cold Cups — Why the Material Matters
Plant-based bioplastic offers a true alternative to fossil-fuel polymers in single-use foodservice. That is the body of these 4 oz cold cups. There is no plastic film, no wax coating, and no PFAS — the unbleached fiber itself is dense enough to resist oil and grease, and to compost cleanly as a single material. The result is a foodservice container that does not compromise on heat, structure, or end-of-life recovery.
Each case ships 2000 units, with 77 cases per pallet for 154,000 units per pallet — sized for catering, school dining, hospital foodservice, hotel banquets, and operators transitioning out of foam.
Where this container earns its place on the line
- Dry-to-mildly-moist hot menu items — school lunch entrées, sandwiches, baked dishes, fries, pastries — the dense fiber holds without soaking.
- Bakery and deli grab-and-go — single-material recovery for compost-stream sorting.
- Operators on home-composting back-of-house — OK compost HOME certified for backyard or commercial composting.
- Catering with single-component plating — appetizers, sides, simple entrées.
- School and university foodservice — compostable end-to-end with no plastic or wax to separate.
- Cold and ambient menu items — fresh fruit, parfaits, salads without dressing, bakery and grab-and-go.
Five problems this SKU is engineered against
1. 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.
2. Multi-state compliance complexity
Operators running locations across 6+ states cannot stock a different SKU per jurisdiction. This product clears the strictest of the state PFAS and biobased food-packaging rules currently in force, so a single SKU works in California, New York, Washington, and any state that follows.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
Build, materials, and operator features
- Pla bioplastic construction — plant-based material chosen for this application.
- Hot food safe to 220°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.
Compliance, compostability, and food-contact certificates
- 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.
- ASTM D-6400 (ASTM International) — meets the U.S. industry standard for industrial compostability.
- NSF Certified Compostable (NSF International) — independent third-party verification of compostability claims.
Product specifications
| Capacity | 4 oz |
|---|---|
| Material | Pla bioplastic |
| Color | Natural Fiber |
| Heat tolerance | Up to 220°F |
| Freezer safe | Yes |
| Compost timeframe | 2–4 months (commercial); industrial compostable only |
| Quantity per case | 2000 |
| Cases per pallet | 77 (154,000 units per pallet) |
| Case weight | 6.62 lbs |
| SKU | SYR-CC-4-2000 |
Frequently asked questions
Does this cold cup hold up under saucy or steaming hot dishes?
Yes. The body is rated for hot food up to 220°F. Hot pastas, curries, soups (with a lid), stews, and baked entrées hold without warping.
What is the case and pallet configuration for these cold cups?
Yes. They stack tightly when empty (2000 per case, 77 cases per pallet for 154,000 units per pallet) and stack safely with a lid when filled. The footprint fits standard foodservice slots and delivery bags.
Do these meet California AB 1200 and New York PFAS food packaging regulations?
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.
Do these cold cups qualify for school district biobased and PFAS-free procurement requirements?
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.
What is the composting timeline for these cold cups?
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.
