From the moment we pull our heads off of the pillow in the early morning hours, many of us feel that the very best part about waking up is having some sort of caffeinated brew within arm’s reach to flood our system. Oh, sweet relief. Acting somewhat like a cross between a defibrillator and a magical elixir, a simple cup of coffee always manages to lift the cobwebs and restore the balance to our otherwise hectic schedules. Those of us who choose to knock back multiple cups get treated not only to the dynamic duo of robust flavor along with perky caffeine, but also to an impressive list of health benefits such as a reduced risk of stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Type 2 Diabetes and certain types of cancer.
Coffee is such an integral part of the lives of Americans that the National Coffee Association claims that we spend close to $18 billion dollars yearly, a large percentage of which is purchased while on-the-go. Wallet Pop calculates that we willingly fork over $912.50 annually on a daily cup of plain-Jane coffee, while those who prefer their brew a bit more frou-frouey end up plunking down $1,031 to indulge their cappuccino habit. What this all means in the grand scheme of things that we end up disposing of 58 billion cups that utilize 6.5+ million trees annually.
In an effort to break the disposable paper cup habit, Starbucks is asking all of their global java-loving patrons to commit to toting a reusable coffee mug. To demonstrate how serious they are about making a positive environmental impact and to sweeten the deal for their Bucky-groupies, the 39 year old brewed bean purveyor will pour free coffee into all reusable coffee cups that are brought into their participating locations on April 15, 2010. Those who want to take a personal role in greening their coffee habit beyond tax day may want to consider the following options:
1) Stop Buying Brewed Coffee From Specialty Shops.
If you are among the legions of java junkies who always make a ritualistic pit stop at your local coffee emporium every single morning, then there’s clearly enough time in your schedule to take an extra 2 minutes before you leave your house to fire up your personal coffee maker instead. Saving major money won’t be the only benefit of shaking up your routine. You’ll have control over the degree to which your beans are ethically and environmentally produced, you’ll eliminate all disposable waste typically associated with out and about coffee runs and you’ll be able to compost your spent filters and coffee grounds every single day. Furthermore, you won’t generate unnecessary carbon as you sit in the “to go” lane with your idling car.
2) Carry a Beverage On-The-Go Kit In Your Car At All Times (Just In Case).
There will come a time when the call of the cappucino is so strong that you will move heaven and earth to sample that sweet elixir one more time. Instead of indulging your impromptu craving with a store-provided disposable cup, stow an emergency kit in the back of your car which contains 2 standard ceramic mugs, 2 reusable travel mugs, 2 reusable spoons and 2 washable napkins (hey, you never know when a crazy coffee spill will occur). The next time the caffeine urge washes over you, take a walk on the eco-side by bringing in your own coffee equipment, which will serve you and a friend or significant other quite nicely, whether you want to sip a standard leisurely brew or take a more frothy confection with you while out on the road.
3) Support The Cradle-To-Cradle Coffee Cup Literally Made With Used Grounds.
Recycled coffee grounds have proven to be a super clever alternative automobile fuel, a fabulous facial scrub and the means by which multiple types of household containers can be created, so why can’t we make actual cups for our java with the discarded bean remnants? Actually, Canada’s own Saleem Khattak, Soren Schou and Peter Busby have proposed a coffee-café-manufactured cup concept called the c2c Coffee Cup that utilizes the waste stream of used grounds along with a blend of mixed paper pulp sources and corn derived dextrose (which acts as a binding agent and waterproofer). By pressure molding, hardening and finally cooling those three components into an ergonomic coffee cup shape on site, they believe that their 100% compostable and fully biodegradable design will engage patrons and make them far more enthusiastic about supporting a green beverage solution.
4) Use an Eco-Friendly Insulated Coffee Sleeve.
Yes, coffee can be very hot, which is technically how it’s supposed to be (despite the unfortunate events that transpired between McDonald’s and their litigious patron, Stella Liebeck back in 1992). Instead of using a disposable version which in far too many cases is still pristine when it’s tossed, you can create your own reusable DIY coffee cozies that reflect your mood and daily fashion. If you prefer to purchase an already-made version, Contexture Design's handmade $68 Coffee Cuffs (made from “reclaimed architectural veneer offcuts”), while seriously pricey, can also be used as a sleek looking wrist cuff. Finally, designer Scott Amron recently unveiled a phenomenal new fully biodegradable and non-toxic thin paper version called the “Heatswell” which expands as much as 1 inch once hot liquid is added to the cup it’s snuggled around.
5) Participate in the Beta Cup Challenge.
Are there a bunch of eco-friendly design ideas swimming around that big bad head of yours? Instead of waiting for someone else to rescue us from our disposable coffee cup malaise, commit your green coffee cup design to paper and get an opportunity to win a $20,000 prize. Enter the Betacup challenge before June 15, 2010, being sure to detail how your concept addresses the key elements of waste reduction, necessary resources and how effective you believe it is at offering a viable solution. 15 minutes of fame? I'm thinking that the glory will last a lot longer than that.
RE Ausetkmt
said on April 26, 2010