The Environmental Effect Of Disposable Coffee Cups

It is estimated that Australians go through a staggering 1 billion disposable coffee cups per year. That's approximately 2,700,000 paper coffee cups thrown out every day and it’s a sad fact that our national love of coffee and reliance on takeaway paper cups rather than reusable cups is having a negative environmental impact.

How do disposable coffee cups harm our environment?

It takes a huge amount of energy to produce, distribute and dispose of paper coffee cups. This has impacted our environment, contributing to global warming and pollution worldwide. Reports indicate that less than 1% of the cups we produce are actually being recycled and although the term ‘paper cup’ sounds innocuous, it’s deceiving.

Most paper cups are lined with a type of plastic which prevents the liquid from leaking, but this very same layer also prevents them from being recycled. This means most of them end up in a landfill.

Fewer Trees

Global consumer demands and reliance on natural resources means deforestation is the biggest factor in the production of paper cups. Over 20 million trees are cut down each year to produce single-use paper cups. The loss of millions of trees means less carbon dioxide is absorbed from our atmosphere and as a result, our environment becomes more polluted and our ecosystem is irreparably damaged.

More CO2 emissions

It’s estimated that the production of every four paper cups results in one pound of CO2 emissions, increasing CO2 which is exacerbated by dwindling tree numbers to re-capture it. As most paper cups end up in landfill, they subsequently release methane, a more harmful gas that CO2 that also traps heat in the atmosphere, likely contributing to global warming.

Things you can do for the environment

The good news is that small changes make a big impact and prevent further damage to the environment. Swerving the paper cup altogether and savouring your morning coffee at your local café in a real cup is one way to help. Taking the time to sit in, using one of their own mugs will eliminate any takeaway cup wastage immediately.

You could speak to your local café and ask about their cup supplier. Some companies will offset their carbon emissions produced during manufacturing. If you have to take away, try selecting biodegradable coffee cups that are lined with plant-based material so that they do not end up in a landfill. Better yet, use a reusable coffee cup that can be used time and time again.

The reusable HuskeeCup

Meet HuskeeCup, our designer reusable coffee cups not only look beautiful, but they are also durable, BPA-free and most importantly, they are sustainably-made using waste husk leftover from the production of coffee. The HuskeeCup comes in a range of sizes, with universal lids and saucers so they are ready to be used both on the go, at home or in your local café.

Huskee’s long term plan

HuskeeLoop is an end-of-life program for your reusable coffee cup. When used over a long period of time, the cups can get a bit worn out, so our goal is to ensure they are repurposed into amazing new Huskee products. We have collection points that make it easy for you to drop off your HuskeeCup and send it off for a new lease of life.

HuskeeSwap invites cafes to join us in creating a better planet by serving takeaway coffees in reusable HuskeeCups. Simply bring your reusable coffee cup with a lid back to the café and they will swap it for a clean cup, heavily reducing the use of single-use takeaway coffee cups.

Be part of the change by choosing your new sustainable and reusable coffee cup today. Discover your nearest HuskeeSwap café and HuskeeCup stockists right here.