1 Jul 2014

a small change - reusable coffee cups


There is no denying we have become a coffee society. On seemingly every street corner we have thoroughly embraced the ubiquitous European trend of sipping espresso and people watching. And it seems that no outdoor event is complete without a mobile barista.  As a result, the use of takeaway coffee cups has skyrocketed in the past few years  and it is now estimated that Australians alone use 2.7 million cups per day!

Contrary to popular thought, most disposable cups are a mix of paper and plastic deeming them unrecyclable (nor biodegradable) and headed straight to landfill.  While some businesses are flying the environmental flag by using eco friendly disposable cups and lids it is a simple change we can do that can make a profound difference; using reusable cups. By using our own cup we not only lessen landfill but cut down on the amount of disposable cups being produced hence saving energy and resources.

Ours were an impulse buy one morning on a beach side stroll. Happy babies in the sand called for coffee and slowing down and so a takeaway coffee spot was hunted out. Hot coffee was savoured in the sun and the $25 I handed over for our two cappuccinos was soon forgotten.

But to turn this small change into a new (and lasting) behaviour it's essential to choose something with an aesthetic conducive to your lifestyle; do you like how it looks and feels, is it easy to clean? And to reinforce the  habit, keep your reusable coffee cup somewhere convenient. We keep ours in the glove box of the car and I pop them into my handbag when we head out.  We chose Keep Cups for their high quality BPA free plastic which is easy to clean, lightweight, cost effective and recyclable at the end of its life. Baristas have welcomed our reusable cups and some cafes go as far as offering a discount on coffees.

A small change; reusable coffee cups.

Steph x

11 comments:

  1. I totally agree! At my workplace I started bringing my own water in a kleankanteen bottle in stead of opening plastic water bottles and plastic cups to drink from. Your coffee cup looks lovely! Enjoy it!

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  2. We love our Keepcup's, have had them for years, they last and last - they are equally as awesome for takeaway juice's/smoothies and chai latte's ;) xx

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  3. brilliant small but amazing change! you guys are awesome and inspiring x

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  4. i've had my keep cup for a couple of years now. I really like the size and the idea behind them. And I think they're pretty cool. Good on you.

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  5. Hello, I am new to your blog, and looking forward to reading more from you. I think that your reusable cups are a great idea. I always try and use a reusable water bottle, that I take with my own tap water, if I can, and reusable bags and so on. All of these little things mount up don't they, so your cups will help with all of that! xx

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  6. Wow I have a blog to post about this topic written up!! I've been buying takeaway coffee for years and I've been using one of these for a few weeks now - feels so good to be making choices that support your ethics xo

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  7. Coffee joints should totally offer a discount for bringing your own reusable cup. Might motivate more people to use theirs!

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  8. I've been meaning to make this change too Steph, such a simple one, but like you said makes a huge difference! xx

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  9. We love ours. We just travelled up the coast and all the service stations were happy to fill them (however I dont think that you could call each refill 'coffee' some tasted like dirty water!)

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  10. Well this blog is beautiful. -Keepcups! I can never remember to have mine, or have it clean. I've started to tell myself that if I can't remember the cup, I go without the coffee. OR, must sit down and take the time to savour it in the glass. I like that one.

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  11. Love this, thanks for sharing Steph. It all makes a difference doesn't it?

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Your words brighten my day! Thank-you so much for joining me on my adventure. x