Submission: Eco-Challenge: Brew change!

Mar 17

Mar 17 Submission: Eco-Challenge: Brew change!

By Mollie Pierson

This article is in alignment with our university-wide sustainability agreement. To learn more about St. Kate’s sustainability commitments and goals, visit the sustainability site here. Eco-Challenge is in collaboration with the International Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. To complete the eco-challenge on the CSJ site, visit csjcarondelet.org/eco-challenge-brew-change/.

Ditch single-use coffee and tea cups for good!

The average single-use coffee cup is used for just 15 minutes but wreaks havoc on our Earth for decades!

Single-use cups for coffee, tea and other drinks seem impossible to live without in our busy lives due to the ease with which they’re handed out and the convenience they provide us. However, our small habits have a large impact far beyond our time, and a quick choice for our convenience can place a significant strain on the environment.

Here are some facts:

According to the University of Kent, in the UK alone, less than one in 400 coffee cups are recycled, and the annual carbon footprint of paper cups amounts to roughly 75 kilotons of carbon dioxide equivalents, which has been found to be comparable to the manufacturing of approximately 11,500 mid-size passenger cars.
Consider the resources used in the production of paper and plastic cups. Paper cup manufacturing uses 100 billion liters (about 26.4 billion gallons) of water and 32 million trees each year.
Even if the cups are paper, lids and straws are often made from black plastic. According to the World Economic Forum, they're cheap for manufacturers, but nearly impossible to recycle, and they end up in landfills.
While paper cups may seem more sustainable than plastic cups, this is not necessarily the case. Due to the chemicals and plastics used in the lining of paper coffee cups, in some ecosystems, single-use paper coffee cups are just as toxic as plastic.

But what if the shops I go to use compostable or biodegradable cups?

Rachel A. Meidl, an energy and sustainability fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute, cautions customers not to take every biodegradable cup at its word: “Some brands and manufacturers market their products as ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compostable’ when, in fact, there is no scientific basis for those claims.”

A simple solution

The solution to this pressing issue is simple: Say NO to single-use coffee and tea cups by bringing your own reusable cup or mug! Many shops even reward customers for this (like the on-campus coffee shop!), offering a small discount on your beverage.

Take the Eco-Challenge

Develop a strategy to bring your reusable mug or cup when you are purchasing beverages. Take the challenge up a notch by also refusing straws or stir sticks.

The best practice is to maintain and reuse the cup you already own for (at least) several years. Some studies have found if we continue to acquire new reusable cups and thermoses at a fast rate, this can have similar impacts on the planet as single-use products due to the resources that go into producing those products.
If you need to buy a new reusable cup, make a thoughtful choice. Many secondhand stores have plenty of cups in good condition that need a home. Local potters may also make travel mugs. Materials such as stainless steel or ceramic are great insulators, and glass cups with bamboo lids and metal or glass straws are perfect for cold drinks like iced coffee or boba.