SUPD marking on cups: what the turtle symbol means and when it is required
If you have seen a small turtle symbol on a takeaway cup, that is the SUPD marking. EU law requires it on every single-use cup that contains plastic, and that includes paper cups, because almost all of them have a thin plastic lining. This page explains what the marking is, which cups need it, what it has to look like and which language it must be in. At Nordicup we add it to your artwork at no extra cost.
What the SUPD marking is
SUPD stands for the Single-Use Plastics Directive, Directive (EU) 2019/904. Article 7 of the Directive requires certain single-use plastic products to carry a marking that tells the consumer two things: that the product contains plastic, and that littering it harms the environment.
The exact design is fixed by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151. That is why the marking looks identical in every EU country. Only the language of the text changes.
The marking has been mandatory since 3 July 2021.
For cups made partly of plastic, such as paper cups with a plastic lining, the marking has two panels side by side, a red one showing the product and a blue one showing a sea turtle among plastic litter, with a black bar underneath reading PLASTIC IN PRODUCT. Cups made entirely of plastic carry a simpler version with the words MADE OF PLASTIC.
What the Directive covers in general
The marking is only one part of the Directive. In full, the SUPD:
bans certain single-use plastic items outright: cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers, balloon sticks, food containers and cups made of expanded polystyrene, and anything made of oxo-degradable plastic
requires every EU country to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic cups and food containers
makes producers pay for the collection and clean-up of certain products, known as extended producer responsibility
requires the marking on four product groups only: sanitary towels and tampons, wet wipes, tobacco products with filters, and cups for beverages
So the marking is not a general packaging label. It applies to a short list of products, and cups are on it. Lids, food boxes, bags and other packaging do not carry this particular marking.
Which cups need the marking
The rule is simple. If the cup is single-use and contains any plastic, it needs the marking.
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Paper cups with a PE or PLA lining: yes. Marking required
The lining is plastic, so the cup counts as made partly of plastic. This covers almost every paper cup, single wall and double wall. PLA is a bioplastic, and bioplastics count as plastic too.
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Plastic cups, PET, rPET, PP, PS: yes. Marking required
Made wholly of plastic, so they carry the MADE OF PLASTIC version.
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Reusable cups: no. No marking needed
The Directive covers single-use products only.
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Cups with no plastic at all: no. No marking needed
A purely water-based or mineral barrier does not count. If a supplier says a cup is plastic-free, ask for it in writing.
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Lids: no. No marking needed
The list says cups for beverages. Lids are covered elsewhere in the Directive, not by the marking rule.
How the marking must look
Regulation 2020/2151 fixes the design in more detail than most people expect.
At least 1.4 × 2.8 cm on cups under 500 ml, and at least 1.6 × 3.2 cm on cups of 500 ml or more. The 1:2 proportion must be kept.
Fixed CMYK values: black 0/0/0/100, red 0/90/60/0, blue 60/0/0/0, and white. The marking cannot be recoloured to match a brand.
Helvetica Bold, at least 5 pt on cups under 500 ml and 6 pt on larger cups.
Horizontally on the outside of the cup, away from the rim so it does not touch the mouth, and never on the base. If a horizontal placement is impossible, it may be rotated 90 degrees.
Reproduced at a minimum of 300 dpi.
Stickers were allowed only as a transitional measure for cups placed on the market before 4 July 2022. Since then the marking on paper cups must be printed. On all-plastic cups it may be printed or embossed.
Which language the marking must be in
The rule is clear. Article 3 of the Regulation says the text must be in the official language or languages of the country where the cup is placed on the market.
In practice:
- Cups used in Germany carry German text, cups used in Poland carry Polish text. Where they were printed makes no difference.
- Countries with more than one official language expect each of them, for example Belgium with Dutch, French and German, or Finland with Finnish and Swedish.
- Cups for several countries need either a separate version per language or one multilingual marking. Multilingual is allowed, with the translations placed below the marking or inside the black text bar.
- Space is the limit. A small 4 oz cup holds only a few languages before the text drops below the minimum size, so a separate version per market is often the better route.
| Country | Marking language | Country | Marking language | Country | Marking language | Country | Marking language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | German | Belgium | Dutch, French, German | Bulgaria | Bulgarian | Croatia | Croatian |
| Cyprus | Greek | Czechia | Czech | Denmark | Danish | Estonia | Estonian |
| Finland | Finnish, Swedish | France | French | Germany | German | Greece | Greek |
| Hungary | Hungarian | Ireland | English or Irish | Italy | Italian | Latvia | Latvian |
| Lithuania | Lithuanian | Luxembourg | French or German | Malta | Maltese or English | Netherlands | Dutch |
| Poland | Polish | Portugal | Portuguese | Romania | Romanian | Slovakia | Slovak |
| Slovenia | Slovenian | Spain | Spanish | Sweden | Swedish | Norway (EEA) | Norwegian |
- Outside the EU: Norway applies the same rules via the EEA Agreement. Switzerland and the UK do not use the marking.
- The European Commission publishes the official pictogram files in all 24 EU languages. We use those files, never redrawn versions.
What else your country may require
The marking is the EU-wide minimum. Several countries have added their own measures for single-use cups. Germany charges producers a fee per cup into a national litter fund. The Netherlands requires a surcharge on single-use cups and has banned them for drinks consumed on the premises. France has banned disposable tableware for eat-in service in larger restaurants. These rules are separate from the marking and change often, so check with your national authority for the current position.
How we handle it at Nordicup
- You tell us the country or countries. We prepare the right language version or a multilingual block, and we tell you honestly when a multilingual block would not fit legibly on the cup you have chosen.
- We add the marking to every artwork for cups that need it, at no extra cost.
- We use the official Commission files, at the regulated size, colours and placement.
- The marking is on the visual proof you approve before production, so there are no surprises.
- Every delivery comes with a declaration of conformity covering food contact, Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 and (EU) 10/2011, and the SUPD marking.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Since 3 July 2021 every single-use cup containing plastic placed on the EU market must carry it.
It is the SUPD marking. The turtle stands for marine litter, and the marking tells consumers the cup contains plastic and should not be littered.
Yes. Almost all paper cups have a thin PE or PLA lining that keeps liquid in, and that lining is plastic. Only a cup with no plastic at all is exempt.
No. Stickers were allowed only for cups placed on the market before 4 July 2022. The marking now has to be printed on the cup.
No. The marking requirement covers cups for beverages, not lids.
Either order a separate language version for each country, or use one multilingual marking. Multilingual is allowed, but a small cup only has room for a few languages, so we will tell you which option fits your cup size.
Penalties are set by each country and can include fines and having the product withdrawn from sale. The responsibility sits with whoever first places the cups on the EU market, the manufacturer or the importer, which is why we treat getting it right as our job, not yours.
Sources
- Directive (EU) 2019/904 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, Article 7 and Annex Part D.
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151 laying down rules on harmonised marking specifications, Article 3 and Annex IV.
- European Commission, marking specifications and official pictogram files.
- Your Europe, single-use plastics: bans, marking, consumption reduction and producer responsibility.
Last reviewed: September 2026