Alternatives
Take a seat and enjoy a cuppa:
When you buy your cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc. and you don’t plan on leaving the coffee shop, be sure to ask for a ceramic cup. The number of times I’ve sat in a crowded coffee shop and I’ve been the only person drinking from a ceramic mug is shocking. Sit and enjoy your drink from a mug, don’t create waste where it’s not needed.
Bring your own cup:
If you grab your cup of coffee prior to your commute in the morning, then bringing your own thermos to refill makes a lot more sense. Look eco-friendly and have a much less chance of spilling on yourself and others. Can work in the train, the bus or your car.
If you drink your coffee primarily at your desk at work, then pick up a reusable cup that will have a new home on the top of your desk.
If you primarily use the cardboard cups while at meetings, set up a system to replace those disposable cups with ceramic, reusable mugs.
Many coffee shops sell the reusable cups, but there are also a great deal to be found online. Here are a couple of clever ones I’ve come across:
Also, be sure to check out the Kill the Cardboard Cup Blog for the most up-to-date reusable cup news.
Or if you must:
Promote and encourage the use of biodegradable cups that can hold hot beverages. International Paper has created a 100% biodegradable cup called the “Ecotainer”. The cup has a liner made from corn instead of petrochemicals.
