Eliminating plastic pollution has become a common goal for countries worldwide, and policies to control plastic pollution are continuously emerging and becoming increasingly stringent. In response to the soaring plastic pollution and the requirements of international and domestic policies, as well as the trend of improving companies' sustainable development performance, the market demand for eco-friendly paper cups is growing rapidly.

However, the promotion of eco-friendly paper cups has faced challenges. On one hand, the application of non-plastic, biodegradable coating technologies in Europe and the United States has been hindered by leakage issues, which hampers the progress of sustainable development in the foodservice industry and affects customer experience. On the other hand, traditional polyethylene (PE) coated paper cups, although mature in the market, still face challenges in terms of recycling and environmental impact. Additionally, biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) coating films face cost and technological limitations, making it difficult to meet the requirements of high temperature resistance and long-term leakage resistance.

In the context of China's commitment to carbon neutrality, peak carbon emissions, the action plan for plastic pollution control during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and the development of a green circular economy, the innovation of paper-based and biodegradable plastic technologies has become an important direction for related industries worldwide. Paper packaging products have multiple natural advantages, such as renewability, recyclability, and biodegradability. China's promotion of the "paper instead of plastic" development direction can effectively reduce the use of fossil-based materials, thereby reducing carbon emissions. It provides an effective development direction to help end plastic pollution, protect the ecological environment, promote the development of green industries, and achieve sustainable development.

Taking paper tableware as an example, in order to obtain water and oil barrier properties, a layer of plastic film needs to be coated on the raw paper. Currently, the majority of the market uses polyethylene (PE) coating, which results in non-degradability, non-repulpability, and difficulties in recycling for the entire paper cup. In response to the industry's demand for green and environmentally friendly development, related companies have developed biodegradable coating products and water-based acrylic emulsion coating technology. Compared to traditional coating processes, water-based acrylic emulsion barrier coating products have the advantages of resource conservation, repulpability, and recyclability. They are also known as plastic-free paper cups in the market.

At the United Nations Environmental Assembly in 2022, a globally binding plastic treaty is being discussed. China is also accelerating the formulation of policies to control plastic pollution and will promote the global industry and companies to invest more resources in the research and development of alternative PE coating technologies during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Water-based acrylic coating technology is an emerging environmentally friendly coating technology that has been developed and promoted by global chemical giants such as Germany's BASF, China's well-known chemical company Wanhua Chemical, and the United States' Dow Chemical.

Our company's prominent product is the Yeepak water-based acrylic emulsion barrier coating technology. This environmentally friendly and durable paper cup solution effectively solves the problem of cup leakage and the coexistence of environmental protection. It brings hope for the sustainable and high-quality development of the paper cup industry and becomes an effective alternative to PE coating.

Water-based acrylic emulsion barrier coating technology provides a new roadmap and direction to end plastic pollution, offering high-performance, safer, and more environmentally friendly solutions for related industries. It achieves the environmental value of repulpability and easy recyclability. Coating the inside of paper cups with water-based acrylic emulsion coating can effectively prevent leakage and has excellent adhesion, heat resistance, and resistance to media. Unlike ordinary containers for cold drinks, it has better tolerance for hot drinks. In addition, BASF's water-based acrylic emulsion barrier coating technology complies with GMP production and quality management regulations during the manufacturing process. The water-based acrylic emulsion also complies with food contact material regulations such as the US FDA, Germany's BfR, and China's GB.

Since 2020, China's National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Ecology and Environment jointly issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control," which has been regarded as a policy benchmark and is known as the strictest "plastic ban" policy. Local governments, represented by Hainan Province, have implemented a series of supporting measures to strongly support the implementation of plastic pollution control solutions and encourage technological innovation by enterprises. The goal is to protect the ecological environment, promote the development of the green industry throughout the entire value chain, and achieve a nationwide coordinated new circular economy model.

At the same time, leading restaurant chain brands such as Starbucks, KFC, and McDonald's are seeking

environmentally friendly packaging solutions for food and beverages to meet the increasing demands and

appeals from policies, regulations, and consumers worldwide to control the escalating plastic pollution. The promotion and application of water-based acrylic emulsion barrier coating technology will help companies in the food industry grasp the direction of policies while achieving a greener and more sustainable business model, establishing a green and environmentally friendly brand image, and tapping into the potential of green consumer development. Water-based acrylic emulsion coated paper cups are expected to be widely used globally, bringing a better and greener future for the planet and humanity.