VeriGreen Plus – the world-first biotransformable cup redefining single-use sustainability – will make its UK debut at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026.
Every now and then, something enters our lives and leaves no trace. In the world of single-use plastics, however, those traces linger far longer than intended, etched into rivers, landscapes, and oceans for decades.
A coffee cup, straw, or takeaway container may serve its purpose today, but tomorrow, it could begin a journey beyond its usefulness, adding to a tide of fugitive waste that escapes collection, overwhelms infrastructure, and disrupts ecosystems.
A new approach is emerging to tackle this challenge – one that blends scientific rigor, innovative materials, and operational practicality to rethink what happens at the end of a cup’s life. Enter VeriGreen Plus, a world-first bio-based biotransformable cup, making its UK debut at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026. Designed to be recyclable, it also safely returns to nature if it escapes collection. Developed collaboratively by eGreen International, a family-run business with a 75-year legacy in sustainable packaging, and Polymateria, a London-based polymer science company, the cup represents a step-change in single-use sustainability.
“For us, VeriGreen Plus is more than a product,” said Caroline Wiggins, CEO of eGreen. “It’s single-use, but fossil-fuel-free. Made from recycled cooking oil turned into a polymer, it biotransforms if left in the environment, returning safely to nature. The world is moving towards carbon-free materials, and this is one way to make it real.”
The scale of the single-use problem is staggering. Around 500 billion cups are used globally every year, with most ending up in landfill, incineration, or the natural environment. These cups are a major contributor to fugitive plastic waste – materials that escape even the best-managed recycling systems.
Celine Moreira, Global Partnerships Director at Polymateria, explained: “We saw a gap: no credible solution existed to tackle fugitive waste in a circular, biodegradable way. Our goal was to retain plastic’s strength and flexibility while eliminating its long-term environmental impact.”
Central to VeriGreen Plus is proprietary self-destruct technology. If a cup escapes collection, it undergoes biotransformation, turning into a harmless wax that microbes safely metabolise. “The technology remains dormant for three years, maintaining full strength and usability,” said Moreira. “If the cup ends up in the environment, transformation is triggered by heat, sunlight, air, and moisture. It’s safe, leaves no microplastics or toxins, and biodegrades fully.”
Independent verification under the BSI PAS 9017 standard ensures credibility. Steven Altmann-Richer of Polymateria added: “Standards give manufacturers and users confidence. Everything we do is rigorously tested to ensure the product delivers on its promise.”
VeriGreen Plus has already proven itself in demanding real-world settings. At Twickenham Stadium, it supported 80,000 cups in a short window with a 98 percent collection rate. Liverpool’s Anfield and other venues have quickly adopted the cup, which is carbon neutral and made from 100 percent ISCC-certified materials via Mass Balance, demonstrating operational feasibility at scale.
The journey from lab to market has been careful and collaborative. Wiggins reflected: “From initial trials to full-scale deployment, it took years of testing and fine-tuning. Our goal was a product that works for businesses operationally while protecting the environment.”
VeriGreen Plus proves that single-use can be practical and planet-friendly. From stadiums in the UK to coffee chains in Asia, the cups show that innovation, science, and usability can coexist. As Moreira concluded: “We’ve perfected this technology over 10 years. It’s a safer path for the environment and a credible, scalable solution for businesses.”
For the first time, meet the minds behind VeriGreen Plus and see it in action at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026, 11–12 February, NEC Birmingham.
Book your free ticket to the event today at: www.packagingbirmingham.com
