Those Small Ice Cream Cups with Wooden Spoons — Eco-Friendly, Practical, and Perfect for Ice Cream Shops?

Small paper ice cream cups with wooden spoons¹ are more than just a way to serve dessert — they blend convenience, comfort, and eco-friendliness into one neat package. They make your product look appealing while sending a message about sustainability.

Small ice cream cups and wooden spoons¹ are durable, food-safe, biodegradable², and ideal for serving frozen desserts in a cost-effective and eco-friendly way.

What Are the Little Ice Cream Cups Called?

These small cups are most often known as ice cream paper cups, gelato cups, or frozen dessert cups. For tasting events, you may also hear them called sampling cups.

They are typically produced from food-grade paperboard, a sturdy material that can hold frozen desserts without becoming soggy. The inside has a thin waterproof and oil-resistant coating so that ice cream, gelato, or sorbet does not seep through.

Dive Deeper: Materials and Construction

Most ice cream paper cups are made from cupstock paperboard³, designed specifically for food use. It is thick enough to hold shape when wet and smooth enough for good printing. The coatings can vary: traditional PE plastic, plant-based PLA⁴, or newer water-based options. For shops aiming at eco-friendly branding⁵, PLA or water-based coatings⁶ offer biodegradability and compostability.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Choosing the right coating means balancing cost, performance, and sustainability targets. Today’s technology allows eco-friendly coatings to match the durability of PE without the environmental drawbacks.

Why Is a Wooden Spoon Used for Ice Cream?

Wooden spoons are replacing plastic for three main reasons.

Comfort and Safety Wood doesn’t transfer cold as much as metal and feels softer in the mouth. It also leaves no metallic aftertaste.

Eco-Friendliness Made from renewable materials like birch or bamboo, wooden spoons¹ are biodegradable² and compostable, reducing plastic waste.

Regulatory Compliance With many regions banning single-use plastic cutlery, wooden spoons¹ provide a compliant solution without sacrificing usability.

💡 Shops can enhance their green image by pairing biodegradable² cups with wooden spoons¹ printed or stamped with their logo.

Dive Deeper: Wooden Spoon Sourcing

The most common materials for these spoons are fast-growing woods like birch or bamboo. They are harvested, milled, and polished to prevent splinters, then often embossed or printed for branding.

From a supply standpoint, wooden spoons¹ can be produced at scale without heavy environmental impact if sourced from certified sustainable forestry. Shops can also opt for FSC-certified suppliers to ensure the wood comes from responsibly managed forests. While slightly more expensive than plastic cutlery, the costs are narrowing as demand for eco options grows.

What Is the Name of the Paper Used in Ice Cream Cups?

The main material is food-grade paperboard, also called cupstock paper. This is biodegradable², safe for direct food contact, and strong enough to withstand freezing temperatures.

It’s often lined with plant-based PLA⁴ or water-based coatings⁶ to resist leakage while remaining compostable. Traditional plastic linings like PE are still common but are less eco-friendly.

🌱 Switching to biodegradable² coatings cuts landfill waste and supports a brand’s eco credentials.

Dive Deeper: Why Coating Choice Matters

Paperboard by itself will absorb moisture and soften. A lining is essential. PLA coatings are made from corn or sugarcane starch, offering a renewable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Water-based coatings combine a thin polymer dispersion with natural binders, creating a recyclable and compostable barrier.

Here’s how the three main linings compare for business use:

For shops aiming to market their eco goals, the choice of coating is a direct reflection of their brand values.

How to Choose the Size of Ice Cream Paper Cups?

Cup size depends on portion style, serving type, and audience:

• 3–4 oz — Tasters or kids’ servings
• 5–6 oz — Single scoop for adults (most common café size)
• 8 oz — Two scoops or sundaes with toppings
• 12–16 oz — Frozen yogurt or premium desserts with multiple toppings

Other points to consider:

• Your main portion size — oversizing increases food cost
• Lid compatibility for takeaway orders
• Branding space for logos and designs

Dive Deeper: Portion Control and Cost Savings

The size you choose has a direct effect on profitability. Serving a 6 oz portion in an 8 oz cup encourages overfilling, increasing food costs over time. Properly matched cup sizes ensure consistency and predictable margins.

From a printing standpoint, larger cups offer more advertising space, but smaller cups have higher turnover rates in high-volume shops. This means even small serving cups can generate significant brand impressions when printed with your logo.

Why Eco-Friendly Ice Cream Cups & Wooden Spoons Make Sense for Your Business

Eco-friendly packaging is more than a trend — it is a market advantage.

• Customer Appeal — Consumers actively choose greener options
• Stay Ahead of Bans — Meet compliance before plastic bans tighten
• Brand Marketing — A visible, on-the-go ad with every order
• Cost-Effective — High-volume biodegradable² products are now competitively priced

Shops using sustainable cups and spoons position themselves as forward-thinking and socially responsible.

Conclusion

Small ice cream cups and wooden spoons¹ deliver both practicality and sustainability. They protect your product, delight your customers, and advertise your brand — all while aligning with eco goals. In today’s dessert market, that makes them a smart choice.

🎯 Serve Ice Cream Sustainably & Stylishly We offer:

• Biodegradable cups with waterproof and oil-resistant linings
• Comfortable wooden spoons¹ in certified sustainable materials
• Custom cup and spoon printing for branding
• Wholesale pricing and worldwide delivery

📩 Contact us for free samples and a personalized bulk quote — make your desserts delicious for customers and kind to the planet.