I found this great tip on the DailyGreen.com and wanted to pass it on.
Cut down on waste, as well as toxic chemicals in the environment, by using a reusable mug at home, in the office and on the go, instead of opting for single-use containers for coffee, tea and other beverages. Become a "Mug Activist."
If you buy your daily cup of coffee in a disposable container, you are generating about 22.75 pounds of waste per year. Across the country, 25 billion polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam) cups are thrown away every year, according to the EPA. That's troubling, because polystyrene takes hundreds of years to break down, and is made of nonrenewable petroleum. Scientists have also discovered carcinogenic compounds leaching out of polystyrene, possibly even into your hot drink!
Cups made of paper products are easier on the environment, but they are made of trees and can result in destructive deforestation. Even recycled paper cups require considerable energy to produce and distribute.
It's wise to use ceramic or glass containers for your hot beverages, because plastics can leach out small amounts of potentially toxic chemicals over time. You also can use this opportunity to market yourself while helping to reduce waste.
Give your customers a personalized travel mugs or ceramic or glass containers as gifts along with a gift certificate to Starbucks or other local coffee shop. Many coffee shops and university food services offer discounts for those who bring in their own reusable containers. Starbucks, for example, offers a 10-cent discount to those with their own mugs, and this encouraged 13.5 million customers to help keep 586,800 pounds of paper from landfills in 2003.
You can also use personalized mugs, ceramic or glass containers for the office. Stop buying those Styrofoam or paper cups to serve your customers coffee or hot tea. I am sure your customers will appreciate drinking from a nice ceramic coffee cup rather than a small Styrofoam or paper cup. You will also save money, help to reduce waste, and help protect our environment.
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Hi Kari ~ Thanks so much for this. I love the idea of giving a personalized mug along with a blurb about being a "mug activist" - super idea! Funny how the way we used to live not that long ago is so much better for the planet and for us.
Liz
I am excited to see how we are going back to how we used to live. REuse.
Hi Kari - I'm with you. Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks aficionados should be told of the environmental effect of all those paper cups. Maybe with the changing economy, people will look at ways to save money and instead of using paper cups, they will switch back to mugs and china cups for their coffee.
Liz - Thanks! It is funny how "getting back to the basics" is so much better for us and the environment.
Nannette - Reduce, reUSE and recycle. It is so important. Thanks for your comment.
Rosalinda - If we start to make the change then hopefully it will catch on.
Kari--my church switched to mugs a year ago and no one seems to object. In the winter the mugs are stacked right in front of the radiator so they are nice and warm and ready for your hot coffee. Local convenience stores are promoting the re-fill of their own mugs each day for lower price than styrofoam cups.
Wow Kari, who knew? I always wonder where all of these numbers come from. ;-) It does make sense not to use anything disposable though. ;-)
Mary - That is such a great idea of putting the mugs in front of the radiator!
Teri - Thanks and I just saw a Wal-Mart commercial promoting mugs yesterday. The word is spreading.
Hi, Kari! I also like the way Thermos has updated their look. They now offer stainless thermoses in really cute colors and designs. I picked up a couple from Target. It's great not to have to worry about breaking them. Great post!