Coffee news: IP, Green Mountain revolutionize coffee cup

In a traditional paper cup, the inner surface is lined with a petroleum-based plastic to prevent leaking. The cup unveiled Thursday by IP is lined with a bio-plastic made from a renewable resource - corn. After use, and under the proper conditions, it will break down into water, carbon dioxide and organic matter, the company stated in a release.

"Consumers will notice no difference as they enjoy coffee with this cup, but the environment will," said Austin Lance, general manager of Foodservice Business at International Paper, in a statement. "It's the first in what will be a series of 'ecotainer' products that reflect our company's concern for the environmental footprint we leave behind."

IP and Green Mountain have been working on the cup for more than a year, conducting a market trial of five million cups.

"Converting to this cup will mean that we consume nearly a quarter of a million pounds less of non-renewable petrochemical materials every year," said Paul Comey, vice resident of environmental affairs at Green Mountain, in the statement.

International Paper recently moved its headquarters to Memphis from Stamford, Conn. It employs about 3,000 people here. The company, which has been in the forest products industry for more than 100 years, serves North America, Europe, South America and Asia.