It’s Only One Cup - Said A Billion People

Summary

The article emphasizes the environmental impact of disposable coffee cups and advocates for the use of reusable cups as a simple yet effective solution.

Abstract

The author, VM Kaufmann, illustrates the significant waste generated by single-use coffee cups, which are non-recyclable due to their plastic lining. Highlighting the UK's consumption of 7 million disposable cups daily, the author underscores the global scale of this issue. Despite the pandemic, Kaufmann offers practical solutions for baristas to fill personal cups safely, fostering a culture of sustainability. The article calls for collective action to reduce waste, suggesting that individual efforts, such as using a reusable tumbler, can lead to substantial environmental benefits.

Opinions

The author believes that the convenience of disposable cups is not a valid excuse for their environmental impact.
Kaufmann is critical of the current waste management system, noting the inability to recycle disposable cups and the potential harm to marine life.
The author is optimistic that change is possible, as demonstrated by their own success in convincing baristas to accommodate reusable cups.
There is an underlying frustration with the slow pace of adopting sustainable practices, but also a sense of hope that simple actions can lead to significant improvements.
Kaufmann acknowledges the influence of zero-waste role models but emphasizes that even small efforts,

Get yourself a reusable Coffee Cup for goodness sake

Image Credit: VM Kaufmann, author of this post

I’m going to make this short and sweet and easy: there’s a reusable tumbler/thermos/coffee cup for every life style. The pandemic is no excuse. Ask the barista to pour the coffee/milk mix directly into your personal cup. Voilà. You’ve just saved a lot of trash.

Image Credit: VM Kaufmann, author of this post

The above pic: all the cups I used in one month: 34 cups that can’t be recycled anywhere (the cups are lined with a form of plastic called polyethylene hence they can’t be recycled as plastic or paper) and 34 plastic covers that I do put in the plastic waste container in the hopes it doesn’t end up in a turtle’s tummy.

I did the experiment of saving the cups I bought/drank, to see how much waste comes together in a single household. Multiply by — I dunno — how many coffee/tee drinkers get their coffee to go around the world? A billion? That’s a conservative estimate.

And here’s the proof, sourced from the reuseaboo website: In the UK, they go through 7 million disposable coffee cups a day. That adds up to 2.5 billion cups a year. Cups could stretch around the world almost five and a half times! And that’s just one country! Yikes! And it is such an easy fix.

I know — pandemic concerns won’t allow some chains, stores to accept your personal cup. My solution: I tell them to either make it in the porcelain cups (at diners and cafés with seating have them) and I pour it myself into my own cup or the barista can use the frothing containers and little metal coffee cans the espresso shots go into; then poured directly into my cup. So far, everyone has complied. They know me. At first, I’m positive they thought I was a pain — but I explained my reasons and now every barista does it with a smile.

So, all the cups I’ve saved to take a picture to prove my point — they’re going into some landfill. And will take at least 30 years to decompose.

I certainly can’t compete with zero waste people like Bea Johnson who are to be commended for the role model thing they have going. But c’mon, we can at least try to do a little better with packaging— like not using disposable coffee cups but bringing your own tumbler — that are really easy to fix. I really hate being a pain in the bottom, but we all need reminding how simple some solutions are. Every little bit helps. Imagine if everyone coffee to go drinker went along with it. That’s a lot of saved waste.

And I’ll shut up now. ;)

Credit Image: VM Kaufmann, author and proud owner of a reuseable coffee cup