• Now in 200+ locations, GaeaStar’s clay cups redefine the to-go experience with sustainable design and premium feel
• Over the past year, GaeaStar has built a network of 25 trusted partners, including coffee shops, hotels and corporate brands 
• Advancements in manufacturing has allowed GaeaStar to lower prices while paving the way for expansion into food, pharma and cosmetics packaging 

GaeaStar, the San Francisco-based company developing manufacturing and material science technology to break dependency on single-use plastic, is gaining national traction for its clay cups that offer a premium, sustainable alternative to plastic to-go packaging. Over the past year, the company has scaled to more than 200 locations through partnerships with over 25 brands across the coffee, hospitality, and corporate sectors. Together, they’ve distributed hundreds of thousands of GaeaStar cups to customers who no longer have to choose between convenience and sustainability.

Inspired by traditional terracotta tea cups in India, GaeaStar is ushering in a new category of to-go cups that feel more like premium ceramic vessels than disposable packaging. Made from just clay, salt, and water using a proprietary ultra-fast additive manufacturing process, these eggshell-thin cups don't sacrifice design, durability or function. The cups can be enjoyed multiple times or just once for guilt-free, on-the-go convenience. Unlike paper or bioplastics, GaeaStar cups disintegrate naturally through mechanical force, without the need for recycling or industrial composting. The company is also focused on last-mile manufacturing at scale, using local resources and manufacturing close to the site of usage. 

“The reason GaeaStar is gaining momentum is simple—customers love the experience,” said Sanjeev Mankotia, CEO and founder of GaeaStar. “While sustainability is a core part of our mission, what truly sets us apart is the elevated, premium feel of the product. People don’t just see it as a better alternative—they actually enjoy using it. Our partners are seeing the economic value first-hand, with premium pricing driving incremental revenue, and it's what's driving more of them to come on board. That's how we build a future without single-use plastics—by making the better option also the one people prefer.” 

From its earliest days, GaeaStar took a collaborative approach to product development, starting with a few coffee partners who shared feedback to help the company refine its cups for quality, durability and real-world use. Guided by feedback from baristas, store managers, and customers, the company has continuously improved its product design, expanding the cup lineup to four sizes, adding reusable silicone lids, and fine-tuning performance for both hot and cold beverages. This hands-on approach has helped GaeaStar build strong relationships and a network of over 25 partners, including coffee businesses like Onyx Coffee, Ozo Coffee and Commonplace Coffee and corporate partners like, Rivian and Capital One Cafe.  

“Our partnership with GaeaStar has the potential to transform the future of to-go coffee, says Colby Barr, CEO & co-founder at Verve Coffee Roasters. “We know it's not always convenient for customers to bring their own cup, so this is the perfect solution, enabling elevated in-cafe experiences with the convenience of to-go, and without the guilt of takeaway packaging. We're excited to offer our customers a new way to enjoy their cup of coffee that brings quality, sustainability, and an elevated experience.”

Building on its success with cafés and retailers, GaeaStar is now expanding into the hospitality sector through partnerships with Populus Hotels in Seattle and Denver, Hotel Healdsburg, and Heckfield Place. For hotels, the cups can serve as premium in-room drinkware, to-go cups for on-site cafés, vessels for lobby and spa refreshments, or even packaging for custom products like skincare and cosmetics, delivering a high-end alternative that aligns with the aesthetic and values of premium hospitality brands.

GaeaStar’s mission is to prove that sustainability and a high-quality, luxurious experience can go hand in hand, and customers are responding. Unlike typical to-go packaging, these are cups people don’t want to throw away. On average, customers who purchase a GaeaStar cup reuse it at least 3 to 5 times. One partner noted that overall use of reusables has increased since introducing GaeaStar, with more customers now bringing in their own cups alongside the clay vessels.

Continuing its commitment to customer-driven innovation, GaeaStar is also introducing a new line of white stoneware cups that respond directly to partner and customer demand for an even more elevated to-go experience. Made from high-grade stoneware clay, these sophisticated white cups offer enhanced durability and reuse potential while maintaining the same natural disintegration properties when disposal is desired. With a luxurious feel that rivals $30 ceramic café cups at a fraction of the cost, these cups bridge the gap between disposable convenience and permanent drinkware, proving once again that customers don't have to choose between quality and environmental responsibility.

GaeaStar’s continued investment in technology is driving down costs and accelerating scalability, putting the company on track to achieve price parity with traditional single-use products. Key innovations include automated material handling, where clay slurry is seamlessly fed into machines, robotic machine tending for hands-free production, and new controls that allow multiple SKUs to be produced using the same tooling, minimizing the time and cost of launching new products. Additionally, further development of GaeaStar’s proprietary Surface Printing™ technique has enabled greater precision, thinner walls, and faster cycle times, all while reducing material usage.

While GaeaStar’s clay cups for hot and cold beverages are the first step, they’re just the beginning. The company’s core technology is designed to be versatile and scalable, with the potential to create plastic-free containers for a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. By extending its manufacturing platform beyond cups, GaeaStar aims to eliminate single-use plastics across even more everyday products.

To learn more about GaeaStar or become a partner, visit https://www.gaeastar.com/.