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The group, aged 22-26, came up with the idea while brainstorming at a business centre.

One suggested a way to cut the number of plastic cups thrown away – four billion a year worldwide – and others suggested adding clover and poppy seeds, plus making it organic and biodegradable.

The prototype was a simple paper cup with baking paper stuck on the base for the seeds.

Kristele Collignon, their technical adviser, said they used bought-in cups but did all the rest by hand. “They found suppliers, inks, seeds and cupcake cases for the base, then tested prototypes at a nursery�.

The cups disintegrate in a few months.

The group now hopes to launch a real business.

“They won €500 in a regional contest and go to the next round in July, but to start properly they need proper funding,� said Mrs Collignon.

Calling themselves , they are selling the cups at €5 for 10.

You can subscribe to a help fund via the Mission Locale centre in Charleville-Mézières in Ardennes, Grand Est, for €4.