Quality you can verify,
before it ships
CupsPak inspects every order before it ships — so what arrives matches the sample you approved, with the documents your market requires.
What a specialist partner controls
We don't leave quality to chance. CupsPak manages it end to end — from the first material check to the final shipping documents.
Audited production standards
Every order is produced to audited food-safety standards — consistency and capability come first, not the lowest cost.
In-process & pre-shipment QC
Inspection during the run and again on finished goods, against an agreed AQL standard, before anything loads.
Compliance documentation
Test reports and declarations of compliance prepared for your customs and due-diligence needs.
A closer look at the quality checkpoints
Every order passes five quality gates. Nothing scales up until you've signed off.
Incoming material check
Cupstock, coatings, and inks verified against spec before production starts.
In-process inspection
Checks during the run for print registration, dimensions, and seal integrity.
Sample approval gate
Your sign-offYou approve a pre-production sample. Mass production starts only after your written sign-off.
Pre-shipment inspection
AQL-based · before loadingAQL-based inspection on finished goods before the container loads. Leakage test with hot liquid at 90°C+ — every batch, every time.
- Hot-fill leakage test at 90°C+
- Dimensional check vs. approved sample
- Print colour & registration check
- Inspection photos sent before loading
Docs & release
Inspection reports and declarations of compliance issued; the order is released for shipping.
Manufactured to the standards your buyers ask for
The certified factories we work with hold third-party management certifications, and our materials are selected to comply with internationally recognized food-safety, social, and environmental standards.
Factory management certificates and third-party test reports (e.g. SGS) are available on request to support your import compliance documentation.
View all certifications →Compliant for the markets you sell into
- Materials selected to comply with FDA 21 CFR, EU 1935/2004, and LFGB requirements for food contact.
- Declarations of compliance prepared for customs and retailer due diligence.
- Full material and batch traceability on every order.
What we test — and how
Every CupsPak order is verified against four categories of tests. Here are the specific checks, methods, and pass criteria we apply.
1. Incoming material inspection
| Test item | Method | Pass criterion |
|---|---|---|
| Cupstock grammage (GSM) | Cut 100 cm² sample, weigh on precision scale | Within ±3 g/m² of spec (e.g. 260 g/m² ±3) |
| PE / PLA coating weight | Gravimetric method after solvent stripping | Typically 15–18 g/m² inner; 10–12 g/m² outer |
| Moisture content of paperboard | Oven-dry method (105°C, 2 h) | ≤8% moisture by weight |
| Ink & coating food-safety | Supplier CoA reviewed against EU 1935/2004 / FDA 21 CFR requirements; third-party migration test available on request | Materials comply with applicable food-contact regulations |
| Reel width & core size | Steel tape measure | Within ±1 mm of reel spec |
2. Physical & structural tests
| Test item | Method / standard | Pass criterion |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-fill leakage test | Fill with water at ≥90°C; hold 5 min on absorbent paper | Zero visible leakage or seepage |
| Cold-fill leakage test | Fill with iced water (0–5°C); hold 10 min | Zero visible leakage or seepage |
| Rim diameter tolerance | Digital calipers, 3 measurements per cup | ±0.5 mm vs. approved sample |
| Cup height tolerance | Digital calipers | ±1.0 mm vs. approved sample |
| Bottom diameter tolerance | Digital calipers | ±0.5 mm vs. approved sample |
| Burst / compression strength | ISO 22096 — hydraulic tester, vertical load on cup | No collapse at 20 kg load (hot cup); 15 kg (cold cup) |
| Stacking stability | Stack 50 cups; apply 5 kg top load for 30 min | No deformation; cups separate without tearing |
| Heat deformation test | Fill with 90°C water; hold 3 min; measure rim diameter change | Diameter change ≤1 mm |
3. Print & appearance inspection
Colour accuracy
- Pantone / CMYK values matched against approved colour proof
- Delta-E ≤3.0 measured with spectrophotometer
- No visible colour shift between cups in the same batch
Print registration
- Design alignment checked with loupe magnifier (10×)
- Misregistration tolerance: ≤0.3 mm
- No ghosting, streaking, or ink bleed
Surface defects (AQL 2.5)
- No cracks, dents, or deformities on cup body or rim
- No uneven PE/PLA coating or delamination
- No foreign matter, dirt, or odour
Rim curl & seam
- Rim curl uniform and smooth — no sharp edges
- Side seam overlap within spec; no open seam
- Bottom seam flat and fully bonded
4. Food-safety & compliance tests
| Test | Standard / regulation | Applicable market | Document provided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall migration | EU Regulation 1935/2004; EN 1186 | EU / UK | Migration test report (SGS / Intertek) |
| Specific migration (heavy metals) | EU 10/2011; GB/T 5009.156 | EU / China | Lab report on request |
| Food-contact safety | FDA 21 CFR §176 / §177 | USA | Supplier declaration; lab test on request |
| LFGB food-contact compliance | LFGB §30, §31 (Germany) | Germany / EU | Supplier CoA; LFGB test report on request |
| Formaldehyde & fluorescence | GB 18585; GB/T 29604 | China / General | CoA from paperboard supplier |
| Microbiological cleanliness | ISO 4833 (total plate count) | All markets | Internal batch record |
| PFAS (per- & polyfluoroalkyl) | EU REACH; California SB 1422 | EU / USA | Supplier declaration; lab test on request |
AQL 2.5 sampling standard
Pre-shipment inspection follows ISO 2859-1 (ANSI/ASQ Z1.4) AQL 2.5 — the internationally recognised sampling plan used by third-party inspectors (SGS, Intertek, QIMA). Sample size is determined by lot size: e.g. for a lot of 10,000 cups, 200 units are inspected. The lot is accepted if critical defects = 0, major defects ≤5, minor defects ≤14. You are welcome to send your own inspector or engage a third-party agency — we provide full access and cooperation.
If it isn't right, we make it right
Re-inspection on request
Want extra assurance? We'll arrange additional inspection — or welcome your own third-party inspector.
Replacement for verified defects
If delivered goods don't match the approved sample, we resolve it through replacement or remake.
24-hour response
A dedicated account manager answers within one business day — one contact for your whole order.
What buyers ask us
See the quality before you commit
Request free samples and a quote. We'll walk you through inspection, documentation, and timelines for your order.