ProDairy cups

Huhtamaki is a key leading global player in sustainable food-on-the-go and food-on-the-the-shelf packaging solutions. Our ambition is to be the first choice for sustainable packaging solutions globally. We strive to earn this position every day with our leading innovative products that ensure hygiene and safety for food on-the-shelf and food on-the-go. We believe in protecting food, people and the planet and supporting affordability and accessibility to food and everyday necessities for people around the world.

The Huhtamaki ProDairy cup is a recyclable, single-coated paperboard solution specifically designed for yogurt and other dairy products. With less than 10% plastic content and one single PE layer, it meets recyclability criteria across Europe. The cup maintains the same high performance as the current 2 sides coated dairy range, while incorporating a unique varnish coating that replaces the traditional outer PE layer. This significantly reduces plastic content by 40% (compared to 2PE paper cups), while preserving a paper-like feel and ensuring a high moisture barrier for chilled products. Developed in Europe, the ProDairy cup offers a technically innovative, environmentally responsible alternative that aligns with the highest performance standards for dairy packaging—an ideal solution for promoting circularity without compromising quality.

Potential future developments

We are developing the next-generation ProDairy to meet stricter recyclability targets and regulatory requirements, aiming for less than 5% plastic content. This will make disposal simpler and more intuitive for consumers, while enabling “recyclable in paper” claims and boosting paper cup recycling rates in key EU markets. Future iterations will enhance both environmental and functional performance—improving stiffness, handling comfort, and consumer experience—without compromising sustainability. Leveraging Huhtamaki’s European manufacturing network ensures that innovation, scaling, and job creation remain within the EU, supporting regional economies. Continuous R&D investment will further reduce the carbon footprint and energy use, reinforcing ProDairy’s position as a competitive, bio-based, “Made in Europe” solution that meets evolving market demands and societal expectations for sustainable, high-quality packaging.

Current contribution

ProDairy enables yogurt paper cups to be recycled in existing paper waste streams thanks to its innovative material design. By eliminating one layer of PE coating, fibres can be more easily recovered during recycling, improving separation from coatings. This solution marks a key milestone in Huhtamaki’s 100% recyclable, compostable or reusable packaging roadmap, achieving a CEPI recyclability score of 76. Transitioning to mono bio-based materials facilitates large-scale collection, sorting, and recycling of paper/fibre packaging, directly supporting EU circular economy goals. Produced entirely within Huhtamaki’s European plants, ProDairy leverages local manufacturing capabilities, fostering skilled employment and regional economic activity. As a “Made in Europe” innovation, it strengthens the EU bioeconomy by combining material science expertise, decarbonisation efforts, and sustainable resource management, while delivering scalable solutions for the foodservice and dairy sectors.