The VeriGreen® Plus by eGreen International, a world-first ‘self destructing’ cup made from bio-based materials, is set to make waves at its UK debut when it appears at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026.
Engineered to be recyclable, the cup also features a time-delayed biotransformation feature that activates should it fail to find itself in the recycling stream, disintegrating within two years. While this feature remains dormant, the material – a polymer made from recycled cooking oil – behaves exactly like a conventional plastic. After the transformation is triggered, however, it breaks down into a powdery wax that will quickly biodegrade.
An innovation with the potential to revolutionise single-use materials, the cup also utilises a QR code design that consumers can scan to access useful information about disposing of the product, supporting crucial public education initiatives in the process. The product has significant implications for the foodservice, catering, and live event sectors, and could be a watershed moment in the conversation around single-use plastic.
Caroline Wiggins, Chief Executive of eGreen, says VeriGreen Plus represents more than just a product. “It’s a single-use product but made from fossil-fuel-free material,” she explains. “If you follow COP every year and all the global conversations, you’ll know the world is moving towards fossil-fuel-free, carbon-free materials. At the moment, all plastics come from oil. This material doesn’t. It’s made from recycled cooking oil that’s turned into a polymer, and then we include a technology that ensures if the product is left in the open air, it biotransforms and returns to nature.
“The priority is always that cups are collected and recycled. But we know 80% of plastic that ends up in rivers and oceans comes from land. If a product escapes the recycling stream, the self-destruct technology means it will biotransform when exposed to heat, air, sunlight, and moisture, transforming it into a harmless wax. That’s particularly important in environments with large crowds and a low collection rate. It’s not an excuse for littering, but it provides a safety net.”
The news only builds anticipation for an already eagerly awaited Packaging Innovations & Empack showcase, and cements the show’s position as one of the most high-profile and impactful ways to launch a major new product line.
And, with several major customers across Europe already on board with the Verigreen Plus, attendees to Packaging Innovations can be among the first in the UK to experience this potentially game-changing innovation. Free tickets for the event, held at the Birmingham NEC on 11 & 12 February 2026, are available now at www.packagingbirmingham.com.