Rethinking Your (disposable) Coffee Cup
November 12, 2009 by San Lo
Filed under Tech & Science
I am sure like me many of you have visited shops or businesses and were scorned when you were served a beverage in a Styrofoam cup! But you will or may be surprised to know that at this point in time that the scorned Styrofoam cup is in fact the most environmentally friendly choice of disposable cup!
How can this be? Quite simply paper cups are not plain paper cups. In order to provide structure to the cup it is constructed of multiple layers of which there will be a layer of plastic or foil which is anything but bio-degradable. If you read the fine print of paper cup manufacturers they will say to check with your local council on whether recycling is available for these plastic or foil layers but the pragmatic truth is it is too hard to strip these layers and paper cups are really currently just not recyclable! [1]
Some manufacturers [1] have started to make paper cups with bio-film as opposed to foil or plastic. In these cases the paper cup is then full compostable or bio-degradable. That said, the commercial existence of these fully bio-degradable cups is next to non-existent but don’t let that stop you asking for one!
In addition, here are more facts on paper cups.
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1. Paper production can cause almost twice as much CO2 emissions and energy consumption as creating plastic or styrofoam products [2]
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2. Paper cups use more material by weight in order to achieve insulation properties as compared to styrofoam and plastic cups [2]. Eg. Starbucks used to serve its coffee in 2 paper cups (double cupping) and now has evolved this practice with its “insulation sleeve”. [3]
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3. The paper cup consumes 12 times as much steam, 36 times as much electricity, and twice as much cooling water as the plastic cup [4]
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4. The paper cup costs 2.5 times more than the plastic cup to produce [4]
The bottom line is the lifecycle costs of disposable cups, comparing paper vs styrofoam or plastic the conclusion is that styrofoam cups are the most environmentally friendly option. [5]
If you have to use disposable cups, then styrofoam is currently the better environmental choice. The best option is to use your own ceramic, steel or glass mug [6].
As always, reducing, reusing and conserving saves far more energy and reduces ecological impact then recycling, which is typically a very energy intensive process.
Interesting post. This “paper vs styrofoam” has raged for years now, and I wouldn’t think one side has won yet. There’s simply too many variables that can change. For instance, what if paper cups were manufactured using alternative energy, certified forests, and were recycled at the end of their lives? That might certainly change the conclusion presented here.
That being said, I think this issue is avoiding the real answer. Imagine an environmentally aware individual trying to decide whether to take the Hummer or the Landrover to work that day, and completely neglecting the bicycle in the closet. We all have reusable coffee cups stashed in our panties. If one is truly concerned about the environmental impact of their coffee cup, I think we all know what the best answer is.
Thanks again for covering a topic that’s near and dear to my heart. Looking forward to the next piece!
Nicko
Director, Sustainability Is Sexy
Well. I agree. and it’s sad that after so many years (some of the research is almost 20 years old) that it appears to Still be the case that styrofoam is the ecological choice (for disposable cups)! It is just wrong?!
tick tock!
i choose steel, cause it’s light weight so you can bring while traveling.
Always pros always cons on all sides! But my main questions would be in relation to their disposal or recycle-ability!
Simple steps to avoid them as much as poss: At work take in a proper mug, Give cheap ceramic mugs to your colleagues. Better on the waistline than sharing cakes, cookies & sweet treats! . I often take my travel mug with me on journeys. If I do use a disposable cup I bring it home & use as handy containers for kids pencils, & general odds n ends,kids can decorate them too. I am on the look out for a smaller lighter stainless steel travel mug & a reasonable cost. If I find one I’ll let you know.
Global consumption of papermaking fibers is on increasing trend – from 300 million tonnes in 1997 to estimated of 425 million tonnes in 2010. Conversely, timber availability is projected to be on a downward course in the next 20 years, leading to higher growth in alternative non-wood pulp.
high cost of wood pulp – (1) electricity, oil & gas are depleting resources, prices increases which are having a significant adverse impact on the wood products and paper industry, particularly those countries with large areas and long transport distances between the resources, the mills and market place, such as Australia and Canada,(2) government policies and mandates which have an adverse effect on containing the operational costs of wood products and paper industry, preserve forests and limit logging activities, (3) more costly harvesting, and (4) it takes 50 years before one can economically harvest a tree.
Most paper source is located in countries where flood, earthquakes and drought occur and that is a concerning factor on supply & demand issue that is very much associated with price fluctuation. Wet weather in north America causing difficulty in harvesting and increasing paper demand in China are also contributing factors in increasing cost of wood pulp.
All these have caused an equilibrium issue in the of supply & demand of paper, thus affecting the price.
If only there’s one sustainable pulp that can replaces wood-pulp and is free from regulatory changes, restrictive procurement policies, restrictive land use policies, fully utilizing of energy such as steam from milling process and meeting at a competitive price, wouldn’t that be great???
YES, there is indeed such sustainable pulp in market with no chemicals added into process…I came across last year and visited the plant in Malaysia…
And if there’s anyone interested to know more, I can make arrangement to visit the plant and understand more in the process….exciting!!!
what i feel is best not to even have both as an option.
more of bringing your cup everywhere you go. it maybe troublesome, but think of the long run and we need F&B companies to understand this and this way they could also save cost unless it is a restaurant where they serve in glasses but i am referring to those serving in plastic or paper or Styrofoam cups . It is down to habit we need to break, it is breaking from our comfort zone. It is not the matter of whether you or i have the money to pay for it, it is the matter of the future.