(July 21, 2026) A new cup, lid, and straw solution — recyclable and home-compostable — strengthens Footprint's portfolio and meets growing demand for packaging that performs without single-use plastic.
Footprint is expanding into the global cup market with the addition of a recyclable, home-compostable, polyethylene (PE)-free hot and cold cup platform from Transcend Packaging, along with next-generation paper lid and straw solutions. The move brings one of the industry's most promising PE-free cup platforms into Footprint's portfolio, expanding access to high-performance fiber-based solutions and strengthening the company's ability to scale practical alternatives to plastic-lined paper cups, beginning in Europe with North America to follow.
Why Cups Matter
The plastic crisis remains one of the defining challenges of our time, and foodservice packaging is a major part of that problem. Cups are used every day, everywhere, and too many still depend on plastic to perform. Footprint’s cup and lid solution replaces traditional polyethylene plastic linings with a mineral-based coating designed to support recycling or home composting without compromising performance.
The PE-free cup has already received strong industry recognition, including a Gold Award from the 2025 Environmental Packaging Awards in Europe and multiple honors for innovation and environmental performance. It has also been independently tested against standards for recyclability, compostability, and material composition.
As Corey Berends, Footprint CEO, shared:
"Cups are used every day, everywhere, and too many still depend on plastic to perform,” said Corey Berends, Chief Executive Officer of Footprint. “This PE-free cup platform gives Footprint a proven technology we can scale globally at a time when customers need solutions that support emerging regulatory requirements and sustainability goals. This acquisition clearly demonstrates our commitment to creating a healthier planet and healthier people.”
Built for Scale
Footprint will begin scaling the solution through its Poland facility as the company expands across Europe. As operations ramp in Poland, Footprint will work with Transcend through a manufacturing partnership to support customer continuity and meet growing demand across Europe. Transcend will manufacture product from its Wales facility for Footprint customers while continuing to serve customers in the UK and Ireland.
This approach supports reliable supply as Footprint brings additional capacity online and expands access to practical, high-performing alternatives to single-use plastic.
Moving the Mission Forward
This is how Footprint’s mission becomes real: taking technology and innovation that can help solve one of packaging’s biggest challenges and putting it to work for customers, communities, and the planet.
Looking ahead, Footprint is focused on bringing this solution to more customers, more markets, and more everyday moments where better packaging can make a difference. It is another step toward a future where practical alternatives to single-use plastic are not the exception, but the standard.
Read the full news release here.