The world consumes about 300 billion disposable paper cups annually, with over 50 billion used in China each year. Traditional PE-laminated paper cups have extremely low recovery rates due to difficult paper-plastic separation, most ending up as incinerated waste and becoming a persistent environmental problem. Although PLA coating is degradable, it requires harsh degradation conditions and has high costs, making large-scale promotion unfeasible. Water-based coated paper cups use water-based polymer dispersions as the core material. After baking to form a film, they boast excellent waterproof performance, can directly enter the waste paper recycling process without separation, and are compostable at home. They feature moderate cost and lower carbon footprint. The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive has driven industry transformation. Despite challenges like lagging standards, insufficient awareness and production line renovation needs in China, the penetration rate of water-based coated paper cups will gradually rise driven by carbon neutrality goals and environmental demands. The industry calls for collaboration among brands, manufacturers and recycling systems. Consumers can support green transformation by bringing their own cups and choosing eco-friendly paper cups, promoting the sustainable development of the disposable packaging industry. For more information, please visit: https://www.tiktok.com/@mia_iota/video/7597717976720149782