Most people will have a reusable cup in their cupboard, buried way down in the back. So why don’t we use them? Maybe you didn’t think you would buy a coffee today but you decided to get a last minute caffeine-hit before your commute home with a disposable cup. Or, you have a take-out coffee without fail every single morning but the fear of storing a coffee-stained cup in your handbag is too much to bear. There are so many excuses as to why we opt for the disposable option, but now should be the time to put excuses aside and think of the planet.
The severity of the problem
In the UK, over 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are used and thrown away each year. That’s around 36 cups per person. This equates to roughly 25,000 tonnes of waste, which is as heavy as the Statue of Liberty.
You may be thinking, ‘but I recycle my coffee cups, surely that counts’ - well it’s been estimated that less than 1% of disposable coffee cups are recycled in the UK, according to the Environmental Investigation Agency. This is due to the plastic lining inside the paper, which prevents your hands burning and coffee seeping through. Some coffee-roasters opt for compostable cups, however these can be expensive to stock and hard to come by.
Culture clash
Perhaps our love for disposables and convenience stems from our culture of rushing. If we slowed down like the Italians, we would sip our espresso at a bar or slowly slurp our cappuccinos as we watch the world go by - no take-out needed. Or we could take a no-tolerance approach like the Kiwis and discourage coffee shops from selling hot drinks in disposable cups altogether.
America, however, is the worst of all for their disposable coffee cup waste. 130 billion cups per year to be precise. Their most popular coffee chain, Starbucks, who are estimated to use 8,000 disposable cups every single minute, have recently announced a pilot scheme to tackle their waste statistics. The ‘Borrow A Cup’ program, launched in Seattle, allows caffeine-keen customers to order their usual in a reusable cup for a $1 deposit. Not only do you get this back when you return the cup, you also score rewards points to use as part of their loyalty scheme. This is just a start for one of the world’s biggest producers of coffee cup waste, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Support local
That being said, local, independent coffee shops in the UK have been offering sustainable alternatives for decades. Whether you want to bring your thermal flask from home or purchase one of their own coffee cups, or even sit-in to have a coffee if you have the time. These shops will reward you for being environmentally-minded, usually offering a small discount on your cuppa.
The solution? Find the right reusable cup for you
- 100% leak proof cups may be the answer for those that are usually put-off reusable cups for fear of leaking coffee everywhere. Invest in a fool-proof, quality cup to put your mind at ease and enjoy your coffee without fear of spillages in your bag or your car.
- Insulated cups are great for people who prefer to make a brew at home, most cups will keep your coffee hot for up to 4 hours, meaning you can enjoy your drink from breakfast time, all the way up until lunch.