Common materials for disposable plastic cups include polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and polylactic acid (PLA).

According to plastic recycling codes, heat resistance varies significantly among materials: PP (Code 5) can withstand temperatures up to 120°C, while PET (Code 1) is heat-resistant up to 65°C; PS (Code 6) is resistant to both heat and cold but is not microwave-safe. Compressive strength also varies by material; traditional plastic cups (such as those made of PP, PS, or PET) have a compressive strength ranging from 26 N to 975 N, whereas PLA cups range from 26 N to 151 N. In terms of thermal insulation, disposable paper cups generally outperform disposable plastic cups; corrugated and double-walled hollow paper cups offer the best insulation, with surface temperatures differing by more than 20°C compared to standard PE-lined plastic cups.

Some disposable cups marketed as "degradable" fail to fully decompose-showing a disintegration rate of 0%-in tests simulating industrial composting conditions, due to the inclusion of non-degradable PP plastic. Tests indicate that no microplastic migration was detected in PS, PET, or PLA cup samples after two hours of immersion in boiling water. Some substandard products pose risks regarding excessive levels of harmful substances; for instance, excessive residues of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol-classified as a Group 2B "possibly carcinogenic to humans" substance by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)-have been detected in certain products.

Plastic cups must comply with standards such as the *National Food Safety Standard for Plastic Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Food* (GB 4806.7) and *Plastic Drinking Cups* (QB/T 4049); common areas of non-compliance include seal integrity and impact resistance.