Despite the transition of major coffee chains to paper cups, these supposedly eco-friendly alternatives may not be as green as they seem. Scientists have discovered that these paper cups are coated with a thin layer of plastic, which can release harmful chemicals impacting living organisms. This revelation is concerning as hundreds of billions of these single-use coffee cups are used globally each year, with the majority not being recycled.
  

Key Points: 

1. Every year, the world uses hundreds of billions of single-use coffee cups, most of which aren’t recycled.
2. Major coffee chains have shifted to paper cups, believing them to be more eco-friendly.
3. Scientists found that these paper cups have a thin plastic coating which can leach chemicals harmful to living creatures.
4. The perception of these cups being a greener alternative is thus challenged by this new discovery.

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/paper-cups-toxic/