# Water-Activated Beverage Cups Smart Cups Introduces "the World's First Printed Beverage" By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2020-01-15 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/printed-beverage References: [packagingdigest](https://www.packagingdigest.com/beverage-packaging/7-things-about-remarkable-smart-cups-2020-01-14) & [smartcups](https://smartcups.com/) Across different industries, many brands are exploring the creation of waterless products to minimize waste and decrease shipping weights and [Smart Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-bowls) is a first-of-its-kind "printed beverage." These [energy drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microenergy) do not come packaged in cans or powdered formats but actual cups that only need to be [filled with water](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drywater) to create flavorful, functional drinks. Smart Cups makes flavors like Berry Blast and Green Tea + Lemon, all of which are vegan-friendly, free from sugar and help to provide a boost with 125 milligrams of caffeine. After filling a Smart Cup with water—or a different liquid of choice—consumers will observe the cup create a flavorful drink on its own. Smart Cups have already changed the way people prepare beverages and the company has similar plans to disrupt food, cleaners and pharmaceuticals. Image Credit: Smart Cups ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.4/10 - Popularity: 87% | Activity: 96% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Waterless Products:** Opportunity for brands to create products that minimize waste and decrease shipping weights. - **Printed Beverages:** Innovation in creating functional drinks that require only water to activate. - **Self-mixing Packaging:** Potential for packaging that automatically creates flavorful drinks when filled with liquid. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Food and Beverage:** Disruption in beverage and potentially food industry with the introduction of printed beverage cups. - **Cleaning Products:** Opportunity to create waterless cleaning products that are activated with water upon use. - **Pharmaceuticals:** Potential for innovative packaging in pharmaceutical industry that self-mixes medications when liquid is added. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Printed Pet Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-bowls.md) - [Bubbly Caffeinated Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wakewater.md) - [Beverage-Top Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ripple-maker-ii-pro.md) - [Iced Tea Water Enhancers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waterdrop-microdrinks.md) - [Sustainable Edible Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/haeckels-3.md) - [Kid-Focused Water Brands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wave-kids.md) - [All-In-One Compostable Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-butterfly-cup.md) - [Clean Caffeine Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plant-press.md) - [Smartphone-Charging Lemonade Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/panera-charged-up-cup.md)