How often do you drink coffee? Once a day, maybe
twice? Considering that you are a student like me I almost sure that you drink
a lot of it. And as every student you are probably suffering from a lack of
free time and having a break at some coffee shop is often an inaccessible
luxury. Fortunately, a paper cup was created, and coffee on-the-go became
popular as it has never been.
However, have you ever asked yourself what those cups
are made of? Well, on the assumption of their name you would answer – paper,
they are made of paper. And you would be right, but not completely. The most
part of those cups are made of paper but also of a thin layer of plastic which
covers the inner section of the cup and does not allow liquid to soak through
the paper. The common misconception that paper cups made only of paper leads
people to conclusion that they are bio degradable and a paper cup left on a
bench or thrown on the ground is not considered as something environment
dangerous.
According to a Which? Report published in 2011 2.5
billion of paper coffee cups are used annually in the UK and considering the
growth of coffee shop industry the usage of disposable coffee cups will reach
3.75 billion cups per year by 2025. The amount of unrecycled waste produced by
the cups reckons up tens of thousands of tons which leaves its mark on the
environment. In order to recycle paper coffee cups, the paper should be somehow
separated from the plastic and there are only three companies in the UK able to
do that, but even then, it would be too expensive and simply not profitable.
What is the solution? Well, if you asked me, I would
say – do not use paper cups. Just find some time and have a more usual
porcelain cup of coffee. Do it the Italian way where coffee is more of
tradition than a routine. But for those who always in a rush and can not find
time for coffee break I would recommend reusable cups that can be filled with
coffee in almost any coffee shop if ask. However, you can meet some problems if
you use extraordinary cup sizes.
So, what are your thoughts about the problem? Should
Poland pay attention to it as the UK does, or should it remain unnoticeable?
And what are your solutions to it?
Sources:
In another article, I wrote that I was addicted to coffee. I cant imagine living without her, but I always drinks coffee from a glass. I rarely drink coffee in the city, I try to find coffee at home / work in spite of everything without hurry. But in the matter of paper cups I think it is true that they are not 100% paper and eco. I heard about it some time ago and read a little. Some time ago some popular cups were withdrawn due to toxic compounds. (I dont remember the name and the exact reasons) Poland should also do something about it, we are a country there are is backward of other nations in many things.
ReplyDeleteSo, what are your thoughts about the problem? Should Poland pay attention to it as the UK does, or should it remain unnoticeable? And what are your solutions to it?
ReplyDeleteI think all countries should pay very much attention to our environment, not only to the part about how 'paper' cups influences it. It is very serious problem that our civilization developes itself but our environment gets worse and worse. What will happen for a few generations when rivers dry, rains become acid, drinking water went off, and we have no healthy food to eat and air to breath? Do governing elites think about these issues? I really hope so. But hope is not enough.
We people have to gain more consciousness, more morality, more wisdom, and more care about the environment we live in. The cups problem counts into it. But there are more similar cases like with plastic disposable plates, spoons, knifes and forks, plastic cups, plastic bags, etc. Fortunatelly people themselves and some companies also are introducing new way of using these items - using reusable replacements like from glass or porcelain. It would certainly help our nature to gain purity and health, but it is not all and not enough, e.g. much of responsibility lies on governments shoulders, but we could elaborate on it yet long long time...
It surely is a problem. As all of the not recyclable waste that we are producing. I don't think we should even ask the question "should we?" - we should be asking how can we deal wiith this problem. I think that in order to save the envoirment everyone need to change their life - give up some of our convinience and comfort in order to save the planet. So yes, Poland should pay attention event to such a marginal problem.
ReplyDeleteI have never thought about this problem. I don’t drink coffee so dozens of cups aren’t on my rubbish account, but problem is interesting. Should we do something to reduce amount of cups? Should we even notice the problem? If you are a person, who throws away 300 cups a year maybe it’s time to think it over. No regulation will solve the problem if people don’t want to take responsibility themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt is a new, very valuable knowledge for me that even "eco" cups are not as harmless for environment as we think. I don't drink coffee and I don't remember last time I used a paper cup so I do not contribute to the problem. I think that Poland should pay attention to it and not only Poland but also other countries. Unfortunately, I can't find any proper solution right now.
ReplyDeleteDespite that, I drink a lot of coffee from the coffee machine, which use half-plastic cups, I've never though about this problem. I didn't know cups have layer of plastic in it. I agree that amount of waste which is not send to recycling is tremendous and scary. In Poland there are lots of actions taken which aims to reduce amount of harmful waste so taking action in such actions is good idea.
ReplyDeleteI think that it would be good idea to find company that could try to figure out way of separating paper from plastic without high costs.
Another way would be to force biodegradable cups only to be used or figure out way how it would be implemented. Other way is just to make your self coffee in home/job and to carry it with you in thermos but I'm not sure if we are so awake for that ;)
I drink coffee every morning and I rarely drink coffee in the city. I have easy access to coffee at work and I can drink as much as I want. Recently I noticed that the cafe nero only serves paper straws, which I really like. Sometimes it happens that I arrange to meet friends for coffee, but then I use a porcelain glass, not paper. From time to time I like to drink coffee in the open air then I take my glass cup for coffee from my house, which I bought online. It is great - easy to wash, doesn’t destroy and doesn’t lose its smell and taste. I like it very much and I also recommend it to you.
ReplyDeleteEven if I drink coffee, I do it at home or at work and I never use disposable cups for this. Therefore I've never paid any attention to this problem. But I think that this problem actually exists. I think the best way is to use own cups even if you drink coffee outside.
ReplyDeleteI got picked up like everyone else, I thought that a paper cup is less harmful and can be recycled. Nobody writes on it what it is made of. On the contrary, we get signs that it is being recycled. But recently I read an article on the Internet that there is already a cup that was made of materials recycled in the recycling process. Starbucks has already expressed interest in testing this cup. His name is Frugalpac.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is the first fully recyclable cup. Let the rest of the brands follow them.
Treating coffee mugs like ordinary paper does indeed mean that we do not pay attention to what happens to them after use. I believe that the problem should be solved as close as possible to the place of origin. Imagine that from now on a paper cup is treated as a hazardous waste. The owner of the coffee machine pays for each cup that he sells, and then he will not get it back. As a result of such a change in the rules of the game, you can imagine the reaction of this branch of services (eg deposit for paper cups, vending machines for used cups, reusable mugs, own mugs of customers). The problem certainly has a solution, but its introduction would involve high costs and the need to change habits.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't like drinking coffee on the go, I prefer a lot more to either sit in the coffee shop, drink it at home or at work. So from my perspective, I'm already not using paper cups. Till now I didn't even know that paper cups, are actually water proofed with plastic. This might be bigger issue down the line, so I think we should try to start doing something about it. From what I saw some coffee shops in Warsaw already allow clients to bring their own mugs/travel cups, and sometimes clients can buy coffee at a discount if they have their own cup.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to make those cups all from paper? If there is not, we should change way of thinking and start to get glass or our thermos or something like that to cafe. Poland should maybe invest some money in social campaign “Take your cup, bonus rises up”. Some discount with our own cup will be great idea or just take coffee in glasses at the place that we ordered that. Drinking coffee in rush is not so pleasant as when we drink it in comfortable armchair with a cookie.
ReplyDeleteI drink coffee several times a day. However, I have never paid attention to the fact that paper cups are not just paper. I did not realize the gravity of the situation which is the pollution of our environment. Now, I think this problem is huge and we should start working on this matter. In my opinion, companies should stop adding plastic to paper cups, even if it is unprofitable. I will buy a special porcelain cup that I will always have with me. If the majority of people would do the same, it would reduce the usage of paper and plastic mugs. The problem is serious and we must act to enjoy the clean environment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that the problem undoubtedly exists and should be noticed. The one and only solution is education. Only when people will be aware that they contribute to environmental pollution will they stop buying coffee in disposable cups. I've heard about cafes that sell cheaper coffee if you come with your own mug. I hope there will be more such places.
ReplyDeleteSo, what are your thoughts about the problem? Should Poland pay attention to it as the UK does, or should it remain unnoticeable? And what are your solutions to it?
ReplyDeleteI think that as always in that kind of problems - education is on the 1st place. We have to educate society that we have to care not only the daily basis needs but also for much more. It's quite natural that the more society is developed the more they care about higher layers of maslow's pyramid. Un\Fortunately we're still developing country and lot's of people have different needs that's why we won't start to behave like scandinavians within a year. Still- it's not an excuse to not care about the environment because it's one of the things that we'll pass to next generation. It's really complex problem but what is that come to my mind 1st - some of Coffeehouses offers branded reusable cups that if you bring with you that you'll have cheaper coffee. I know that's not the easiest solution to take cup with you everyday but on the other hand it's not such huge dedication. Everything is possible to achieve - look what happened with plastic straws. Lot's of restaurants in Warsaw try to avoid it in many different ways- for ex. Si Restaurant is serving straws from pasta! I think when Coffeehouses will try some brave solutions it could become good advertisement for them!
Paper cups are definitely a problem along side any other non biodegradable single use container, package or wrapping. We produce so much waste that its already gone out of control. Unless we would be able to recycle those easily we should definitely forbid using such single use things. As for Poland, I don't thing its as big problem as in UK, we simple don't take away coffee as often but we definitely have plastic bags issue, and we should control that much more then it is now.
ReplyDeleteSome time ago this topic was very loud in my current workspace and everyone got aware of that. Unfortunately after few weeks of hate directed to those cups everyone got back to using them. I think that every country should pay attention to this problem because not only those two countries has this problem that escalated.
ReplyDeleteStopping coffee drinking is never solution - how could we stop drinking this delicious drink of gods every morning. But a lot of people are recommending reusable cups which are available to buy in almost every shop or coffee shop.
So, what are your thoughts about the problem? Should Poland pay attention to it as the UK does, or should it remain unnoticeable? And what are your solutions to it?
ReplyDeletePlastic usage is a real problem right now and what is more problematic there is lack of solutions. For me the best way to take adventage of this problem is to use glasses. But this is a problem of consumption, we live so fast that it's easier for us to get the coffee in a plastic/paper cup. It's really hard to tell, one side of the problem is just economics, because Starbucks for example would've change the way they serve the coffee, but on the other side is nature and pollution.
This problem is constantly growing and we used to talk about this with my colleagues at the office. We all agreed that this should be taken care of and people need to pay attention to this 'tiny detail' as this affects our common good. I am looking forward to see polish goverment to start doing something in this matter. There are many different solutions nowadays and there only will be more of them as many scientists, students and companies are working hard to find the most optimal solution from which we will all benefit.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't drink coffee to-go so I never thought about it. Of course, every attempt to fight the littering of the planet as much as possible. Not only Poland should try to do it. All countries should apply for it. It seems a nice idea for me to pour coffee to-go into my own reusable cup. If only people who often take coffee to-go would use such cups, the waste would be much less. The same applies not only to coffee, but also using reusable container for eggs, buying porridge or flour by weight for reusable packaging.
ReplyDeleteI never drink coffee from vending machine. The solution in my opinion is to firstly increase the fine for throwing cups on a ground. I’m not a material engineer but I guess there should be some way to make a cheap cup from some biodegradable things. Even if that means putting higher price for a coffee.
ReplyDeleteEnvironmental pollution is a great threat to the current society. Every year we produce more and more litter but we also invent new ways for recycling. I don't have a solution for it. I could suggest thermos for coffee but you have to wash it and put in a bag also some may say that another cup of coffee could tast bad or even be unsanitary so I don't really have an answer. Of course I think that our country should pay more attention to recycling subject but currently we have to handle a herd of cow that's lives freely on our mother's land. You have a long way to go Poland. Maybe if we could leave nature to nature and focus on trash production our planet could become more healthy but this is a harder topic and we definitely need individuals who are truly interested in this topic but from what I see they prefer to do rather then talk and in current system the one who talk have larger budget.
ReplyDeleteYou've known for a long time what you wrote in the article. But it is also logical that there must be some protective layer of the earthing mug about coffee :) Generally, I have not considered the problem with the biodegradation of such mugs. I usually buy take-out coffee during exits, but I always throw mugs in the trash. They raised me like that :) The problem should be considered in a broader perspective and it is not allowed to close only on paper cups. There are a lot of unprocessed paper and what to do about it? I do not know what kind of paper cafes they make, but such mugs should be made of recycled paper. Another way is information or promotion campaigns carried out by cafes or other institutions. They should encourage you to return / dispose of such cups in specific places, and then you must process such cups accordingly.
ReplyDeleteYeah, definitely we need to pay much more attention to the problem of huge amount of non-biodegradable stuff. First of all, we produce too much of plastic and foil bags– this is extremely annoying for me, when I get back from the shopping having so much foil bags. All shops should be forced to use paper instead! When it comes to this coffee paper cups, I think that many people in fact buy such coffee only once and later use the same cup over and over again – just to show off that they do not drink “ordinary” coffee (actually coffee e.g. from Coffee Heaven is pretty expensive) 😊
ReplyDeleteAfter I have read your article, I understand that problem but haven't been aware about that before.
ReplyDeleteIt should be considered by our society and government, with more attention to let people know about the scale of this problem.
The first step as a solution should be just to educate people about what are the effects of wasting paper cups.
The growing use of disposable cups has become a big problem. However, it is a problem that some countries have begun to tackle – whether by the introduction of biodegradable cups or discounts on coffee when using reusable cups. I believe that people are slowly starting to notice the impact on the environment and doing more in order to reduce it. The pace of this change appears to be much slower in Poland that it is in Western countries and I do believe that our government should undertake more action in order to force the public to be more eco-friendly.
ReplyDeleteAs I wrote here once - I don't drink coffee. I don't like it. I don't drink sheiks and other such things. But I understand the problem. There is so much plastic, that even we breathe it (unconsciously). The tiny particles get into the lungs with the air. Even mosquitoes carry plastic in themselves. And birds eat mosquitoes, and then we eat these birds. Fortunately, the Greens prevail in the European Parliament after the last elections. There is hope, there is a chance to improve and save the environment.
ReplyDelete