The future of coffee cups
Cardboard coffee cups are a sustainable alternative to plastic coffee cups, but what do we think is the most sustainable solution and what does the future look like?
Zero waste is always the best solution. Minimizing the use of raw materials by recycling has as little impact on the environment as possible. The choice of raw material already largely determines the CO2 impact. This is shown schematically in the image above.
Reusable coffee cups
The Dutch government is focusing on reusables because they last longer and plastic is easy to recycle in theory. Studies that substantiate this are based on assumptions regarding cleaning (water + energy + cleaning agents) and how often a cup, straw or plate is used (until end-of-life). It is also assumed that the product will be fully recycled again.
The unpredictable factor
All of these assumptions take are based on a certain human behavior. Is a reusable actually used an x number of times? Can and is the material actually properly collected and recycled? From a European perspective, only 8% of all the plastic we use is recycled and around 30% even ends up in the environment. The behavior of people therefore does not correspond to what is expected or calculated. So the future of coffee cups is most influenced by actual human behavior.
From thin to thick plastic straws
To give an example of human behavior. We see an increasing demand for thick, hard plastic straws, as a replacement for paper straws. The paper straws were the replacement for thin plastic straws. These straws are used exactly as thin plastic straws or paper straws. Only once. They are allowed by the government, thus resulting in a factor 20 impact on the environment!
In a few years we may see that the reusable trend does not have the desired effect, when our kitchen cabinets are overflowing with reusable cups from Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King etc.
The future of coffee cups
We continue to use coffee cups in large numbers. The only question is in what way. We actually see three options:
1) Reducing the amount of plastic in the cups and clean recycling
2) Remove plastic from the coffee cups
3) Reusables
More about this in my next blog.