Warnings Raised About 'Eco' Cups Containing Toxic Resin

Charities and retailers have been selling "eco-friendly" bamboo cups and children's tableware that contain plastic resin, despite concerns that these green claims might be misleading and that the products may pose health risks.

Bamboo "eco-cups" are marketed as environmentally friendly but are often not recyclable. Regulators caution that these claims may deceive consumers into using products they believe to be sustainable. There are also concerns that the products may hasten the degradation of plastic, potentially contaminating food or drinks and posing health risks.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advised retailers to withdraw such products in June, stating that further sales would be unlawful. However, bamboo and plastic products are still widely available online, including children's cups and plates.

WWF-UK, the wildlife charity, was selling a reusable bamboo cup that contained 20% melamine and was marketed as helping to protect the environment. WWF-UK removed the product from sale after being approached by The Observer. Another charity, the Wild Planet Trust, which runs zoos in Devon and Cornwall, was selling a bamboo travel mug containing melamine. The trust has removed the product from sale and is investigating it.

Several online retailers continue to sell children's bamboo and melamine tableware. Concerns were first raised about bamboo products mixed with plastic in 2019 when tests by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment found that melamine and formaldehyde could be released from "bambooware" products when filled with hot liquids, like tea, coffee, or baby formula. The European Commission warned last year that tableware containing bamboo and other unapproved additives had not been safely assessed under regulations and their sale was illegal.

In the UK, the FSA has stated that the migration of formaldehyde and melamine from bamboo composite cups is a potential concern to human health. The FSA is now consulting on these products and is requesting manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers to submit relevant data.

The FSA has emphasized that anyone placing these products on the market may be committing an offense, as they contain unauthorized additives. Businesses selling these items are urged to withdraw them from the market immediately. Amazon prohibits its retailers from selling any bamboo and melamine cups or tableware products, with the exception of products made from 100% bamboo or 100% melamine, which are permitted for sale under EU regulations still applicable in the UK for food-related items.

A woman drinking from a reusable bamboo cup

Please note that concerns are raised about health risks associated with the release of formaldehyde and melamine from such products when used with hot liquids, and repeated exposure to elevated levels of melamine and formaldehyde may pose a health risk, with melamine linked to toxic effects in the kidneys.