On an average day, there are about 20 reporters in the news room. They were found to throw away a total of 242 paper cups in the span of six days, roughly 40 cups per day. The figure boils down to at least two paper cups per person per day.

Read more at www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/07/113_70355.html

It’s good to see that something is getting done!

thebetacup: 60 Seconds To Save The World from the betacup on Vimeo.

The betacup’s goal: find the best ideas to eliminate paper cup consumption and help bring these ideas to life.

KTCC is happy to let it’s followers know about BetaCup.  BetaCup strives to find a solution to the paper cup waste that is a result of our poor consumption habits.

To get involved, vote, and submit your own ideas for a new cup, visit www.jovoto.com/contests/drink-sustainably/landing.

Together we can find a solution!

Donate to a good cause and get this cup!

This eco-friendly thermal porcelain cup holds 14 ounces of your favorite beverage and is dishwasher and microwave safe. Cup features a leaf print design, and includes the WWF panda logo on one side and “We seek to save a planet, a world of life” quote on the other. The silicone band surrounding the cup protects your hand from hot or cold beverages. Look eco-chic while helping reduce wasteful consumption of throwaway cups. Take this with you the next time you make your coffee run!

Learn more about the WWF at www.worldwildlife.org.

Fear no more, Mug Hugs are here!

Mug Hug is a reusable, flexible lid designed to fit medium sized mhttp://www.mug-hug.comugs. They had two purposes in mind when creating this product. First, to prevent spilling for mugs on the go for convenience. Second, to reduce the use of disposable paper cups and plastic lids that are filling up landfills around the globe.

Mug Hug is ideal for the office, commute, and for the home. Not only does it prevent spilling, but it keeps your drink warmer too!

Gets the point across.

Disposable – The Billion Cup Blood Bath from Zac Whyte on Vimeo.

Unfortunately, I don’t think any of the cups in this video were reused, but if you’re going to use a disposable cup, at least think of creative uses for it after (or before) your coffee is done…

Source: Mona latte: Da Vinci’s Lisa masterpiece recreated using cups of coffee, Daily Mail (UK)

Cute cartoon, read the blog post at NOVA – The Big Energy Gamble.

Last year, Starbucks CEO Howard Schults committed that Starbucks’ entire stock of coffe cups will be recyclable by 2012.

Starbucks’vice president of Global Responsibility, Ben Packard, invited 30 cup, cupstock and coating manufacturers, recyclers, waste managers and university researchers to Seattle this week to discuss creating recyclable coffee cups.

Some of the research presented showed that many of the cups are already recyclable to recover paper pulp. In fact, a coffee cup can be converted into a pizza box in just three days.

Starbucks is looking to implement a pilot program in Manhattan in which specialized bins will be placed to collect cups and paper bags, which will then be sent to Staten Island’s Pratt Industries for recycling.

The key to recyclability of paper cups is their material, as some (such as Starbucks’) are made of old corrugated cardboard (OCC), and others are mixed paper.

Mixed paper is a lower grade of paper that has less value when recycled. Although many of these cups are lined with wax for temperature control, this can be removed prior to recycling.

Panelists discussed the possibility of better labeling for these cups in regards to recyclability, with one suggesting that compostable cups be labeled with a brown stripe. North America is responsible for 60 percent of the 220 billion paper cups used globally each year.

Source: Reuters, earth911.com