San Francisco and Germany-based startup GaeaStar is set to introduce its 3D printed clay cups to coffee shops in the US following a successful trial period in Berlin.

The terracotta cups are made using only three ingredients: dirt, salt, and water – mmmm, dirt!

GaeaStar aims to eliminate the negative impact of single-use products by developing technology that uses geo-neutral materials to create sustainable single-use products for businesses and customers. The cups come in three different sizes and are suitable for a range of uses such as ice cream, fruit, salads, and tapas.

GaeaStar’s cups are an excellent alternative to disposable coffee cups, which in the US alone, number up to 50 billion per year. The 3D printed cups are ten times stronger than paper cups, and the company expects a better customer experience. GaeaStar’s long-term goal is to install patent-pending 3D printers in stores across the US, where cups could be printed on demand in about 10 seconds. In the meantime, the cups will be available this year in select Verve Coffee locations throughout California.

GaeaStar’s cups are part of the company’s larger effort to create sustainable single-use products, reduce waste and pollution, and improve the user experience while lowering actual costs. The company’s vision is to solve a human problem that could affect generations of living beings.

GaeaStar’s cups are an example of how AM technology can be used to address environmental issues. Solutions such as GaeaStar’s cups are necessary to reduce waste and pollution caused by disposable cups.