Spot the difference - coffee cups

All coffee cups have a moisture proof lining - this is necessary to prevent the cups from leaking. A compostable cup is lined with PLA - polylactic acid. This is a plant based material that is compostable so coffee cups lined with this will break down back into plant based material. Standard cups are lined with plastic, the paper will disappear over time but not the plastic. Unless a cup advertises it is compostable you can't visually tell the difference.