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In a linear economy with resources that get turned into waste very quickly, where in some decades we might have , and where many countries don't know what to do with their garbage, the need to transition to a less resource-intensive economy is an urgent issue. However, there is much that needs to be done to achieve this transition, in areas that you would not think of right away.

Focusing on the coffee consumption at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ, we at the Green Office would like to remind you of one nice and easy way to reduce your waste, as bigger structural changes occur in the background. Here we are introducing our campaign; Bring your Own!

Every year, over 1.5 million paper cups are used and discarded at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ (Source, unpublished FSC report, 2018). It's hard to wrap your head around such a number, isn't it? And with the current hype around getting coffee to-go, this number will probably keep rising.

On top of this, many would assume that the single-use cups dispensed by our coffee machines are only made of paper. However, they unfortunately also contain a layer of polyethylene plastic which makes them difficult to recycle. Additionally, many of these cups are made from virgin paper materials, meaning that this paper was made directly from fresh wood.

Given that it takes ages for a tree to mature, it might seem excessive to you that a mature tree is cut down only to create products with lifespans as short as your coffee break. Not to mention the environmental degradation that is caused by all these coffee cups throughout their lifecycles (including manufacturing, distribution, and disposal). Luckily, this problem already has a solution, and it needs to be implemented at the source.

As we all push for the phasing out of single-use items on a structural level – just like the EU has already  – one thing that we can all do right away is opt out of using these single-use cups, by bringing our own reusable ones.

The advantages of reusable cups

Besides the reduced environmental impact, these reusable cups have several advantages over paper cups. First of all, it is cheaper to use a reusable cup in the long-term. As you may already have heard, the coffee machines spread out across Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ offer a 10-cent discount to those who bring their own cups. If you are a regular coffee drinker, then your reusable cup could basically pay for itself. Comparable discounts are also valid in all the other places where you are likely to go when you get that itch for a caffeinated beverage with a touch of human contact; such as Spar, Gutenberg, and Lodewijk.

Aside from the financial and environmental savings that you can make with reusable cups, there is the comfort factor. With your own trusty cup, you are less likely to burn the tips of your fingers as you hold your scorching hot drink.

How to use them

While reusable cups are more environmentally friendly than paper cups, a critical note is that - like all good things - coffee should be enjoyed in moderation. The climate impact of drinking coffee every working day (in the sustainable way) for a year can be the equivalent of a 10km car trip. If you use paper cups on the other hand, or if you wash your reusable cup with hot water after every use, this hypothetical car ride would become as long as 45-75km (Ligthart & Ansems, 2007). With this knowledge, make sure that you:
 

1. Always bring your own cup, and get as many uses out of it as possible
    
2. Use your cup more than once after rinsing, or rinse it out with cold water

Where to buy a cup on campus

There are several places where you can buy your own reusable cup around Utrecht, or within the confines of Utrecht Science Park:
 

1. You can buy an Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ-branded reusable cup on the university's
    
2. You can also take a very short walk to Spar and find one there

Within the city centre, there are no campus locations where you can buy a cup, but there is no shortage of cafes that have them on offer, or even shops that provide Utrechters with their sustainable wares.

Next time you go on your coffee break, make yourself at home. Bring your own!

This page was written by the Green Office. The Green Office is where fresh hearts and minds come together to support Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ's sustainable development.

Sources:

Ligthart, T. N., & Ansems, A. M. M. (2007). Single use cups or reusable (coffee) drinking systems: an environmental comparison. TNO, Apeldoorn.

Gabbatiss J. (2018). Disposable coffee cups: How big a problem are they for the environment? Retrieved November 15, 2018 from - cups-how-big-problem-environment-landfill-recycling-incinerate-export-rubbish-a8142381.html

Kleis, R. (2017). The plastic cup has a new rival. RESOURCE for Everyone at Wageningen ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ & Research. Retrieved November 16, 2018, from: - has-a-new-rival.htm

Milieu Centraal. (n.d.). Wegwerpbekertje of mok. Retrieved from