Hearing about Thursday's "Take Your Mug to Work Day," sponsored by International Delight, reminded me to share one of the easiest ways to make a green change.
If you haven't guessed already, it's using a mug.
Imagine how many people you see going in and out of the many, many Starbucks or other coffee shops everyday. Now think about what percentage use disposable cups versus the reusable kind. It definitely doesn't weigh in favor of sustainability, does it?
According to IdealBite, if you buy one cup of coffee a day in a disposable container, you're creating 23 lbs of waste each year. That's a lot of garbage. Starbucks alone sends approximately 3 billion cups to the landfill each year. And, yes, you'll Starbucks touting their greener sleeves because they use 10% recycled content, but there's another 90% still there ...
Don't worry--I'm not suggesting you give up your morning latte. Just bring a travel mug--you'll get a lot fewer spills and that drink will stay warm for longer. Or if you have a few minutes to sit, the coffee joint you frequent might even have a house mug you can use.
Some coffee places even offer a discount for bringing your own container. I got 10 cents off my cup o' tea at Argo, and it'll definitely add up.
Feeling really ambitious? Buy your own coffee (fair trade is best) or tea and brew it at home. You'll save green and be green.
Oh and let's not forget about the communal coffee pot at work. Ditch the Styrofoam cups for a mug. And don't be afraid to let your personality show--mine has Tinkerbell all over it.
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