Rethinking Paperware
Cutin Cup uses cutin — the waxy polymer found naturally in plant skins — as a biodegradable hydrophobic liner for paperware. No microplastics. No compromise.
Discover HowThe Problem
Our Approach
Cutin is the natural biopolymer that coats the surface of leaves, fruit skins, and plant cuticles — giving them their water resistance. We extract and apply it as a food-safe, fully biodegradable liner for paperware.
Cutin is sourced directly from plant biomass — a renewable, abundant raw material that requires no synthetic chemistry.
Unlike polyethylene, cutin breaks down naturally in soil and composting environments without leaving microplastic residue.
Cutin provides robust hydrophobic protection against hot and cold liquids, meeting the functional demands of everyday paperware.
The Science
Cutin is a polyester biopolymer composed of hydroxy fatty acids. It forms the structural matrix of the plant cuticle — the outermost layer responsible for waterproofing stems and leaves.
Its unique chemical structure creates a dense, crosslinked hydrophobic network that repels water without the need for synthetic polymers. We harness this natural architecture and apply it as a thin, continuous film on paper substrates.
Cutin is isolated from agricultural byproducts — tomato skins, apple peels, and similar plant waste — using a clean extraction process.
The raw cutin is processed into a formable biopolymer suitable for industrial coating applications while retaining its natural barrier properties.
A thin, uniform layer of cutin is applied to the interior surface of our paperware, creating a seamless hydrophobic barrier.
The finished product breaks down fully in industrial or home composting conditions — no sorting, no contamination.
The Health Case
Emerging research is drawing a clear line between microplastic ingestion from everyday paperware and serious gastrointestinal harm — from gut microbiome disruption to a rising tide of early-onset colorectal cancer.
The Source
Studies show that the polyethylene lining standard in most paper cups begins degrading as soon as hot liquid is poured in. Research published in peer-reviewed journals found roughly 25,000 micron-sized microplastic particles released into a single 100ml cup of hot water in just 15 minutes — alongside toxic heavy metals including lead, chromium, and cadmium detected in the plastic film.
Ranjan et al., PubMed 2021 · LabMed Discovery 2024Scale of Exposure
For regular users of disposable cups, the cumulative burden is staggering. A 2024 study found that a single 100ml cup can release up to 700,000 microplastic particles — and routine users may ingest between 657 and 876 million microplastic particles annually from cups alone. Disposable cups have been identified as a primary direct exposure pathway for humans.
ResearchGate 2024 · ScienceDirect / PubMed 2022Gut Disruption
Landmark research presented at UEG Week 2025 in Berlin — the first study of its kind using human stool samples — found that microplastics measurably alter microbial composition in the human digestive system. The bacterial metabolite shifts observed resembled patterns associated with both depression and colorectal cancer, with researchers noting that the mechanisms may include biofilm formation on plastic surfaces and direct chemical leaching into gut bacteria.
UEG Week 2025 · Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 2024Cancer Risk
Colorectal cancer rates in adults under 50 have been rising sharply in every country that has studied the trend — and the epidemiology points strongly to an environmental cause. Multiple peer-reviewed studies now propose microplastics as a leading candidate. Research published in Scientific Reports (2025) physically detected polyethylene, PVC, and PET microplastics inside colorectal tumor tissue. A separate case-control study of 751 participants found a dose-response relationship between fecal microplastic concentrations and colorectal cancer risk, consistent across genders and dietary habits.
PMC / PubMed 2023 · Scientific Reports 2025 · ScienceDirect 2025Our Mission
"Every cup should return to the earth as cleanly as it came from it."
We're building the material infrastructure for a future where single-use doesn't mean single-planet-cost. Cutin Cup is a starting point — not just a product.
Get in Touch
Whether you're a manufacturer, investor, researcher, or just someone who cares about getting microplastics out of the food chain — we'd love to hear from you.