Cellulose Coating Cuts Cup Microplastics

Researchers developed an all‑cellulose waterproof coating (cellulose acetate + cellulose nanocrystals) for paper beverage cups that resists heat and solvents, is recyclable with paper, and mechanically outperformed polyethylene liners in lab tests. The coating allows thinner paper use, promises cost savings for manufacturers, and eliminates a major source of microplastic particle shedding from disposable cups. — If adopted at scale, this material innovation could reduce consumer microplastic exposures, simplify paper‑cup recycling, alter packaging supply chains, and shift regulatory and corporate approaches to single‑use container pollution.