WATERBURY, Vt. (AP) – In a nod to environmental friendliness, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has begun selling coffee in cups made with a corn product.

After testing more than seven million of the International Paper-manufactured cups – dubbed Ecotainers – the coffee maker unveiled them last month.

“We had long liked the idea of doing something with (hot beverage) cups that would be less (of an impact) for the environment,” said Green Mountain Coffee Vice President T.J. Whalen.

Last year, about 14.4 billion disposable cups for hot beverages were used in the United States, millions by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. Officials expect that number to grow to 23 billion by 2010.

The corn-based cups require less energy to make and will decompose in landfill. They will eliminate the need to use 250,000 pounds of petrochemicals a year, Whalen said.

International Paper spokesman Chris Roeder said the companies see the cups as a way to promote their businesses and be environmentally sound.

“I think … you can be a steward of the environment, and you can still find a way to make a living,” Roeder said.

He said the trees and corn used to produce the paper and the resin in the cups are grown in the United States. The corn-based resin, made from fermented corn sugars, is applied to paperboard, which is then fashioned into cups.

Corn-resin coated cold beverage cups have been used for some time, but those cups couldn’t withstand high temperatures.

“Ultimately, we believe it’s a much better product – it’s better for the environment; it’s better for the world; it’s better for consumers,” said Whalen.