What's the most green container for a cup of coffee? According to Slate's Green Lantern column, the answer is not as simple as you might expect.
Styrofoam Cup? Paper Cup? Ceramic Mug?
Polystrene, even though its made from petroleum, has the advantage of being extremely light weight. Therefore, it takes less energy to manufacture and transport compared to paper or ceramic. The amount of water and energy required to wash the ceramic cup using a dishwasher, according to the 1991 study mentioned in Slate's explanation, approximately equals the energy required to manufacture a new polystyrene cup. Note: washing by hand can actually use more water and energy than a dishwasher!
Still, that doesn't get around the problem of solid waste, and this is where the ceramic cup wins. So the greenest cup, it turns out, is the one that you already own.
image by adevv via sxc.hu
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ugh sorry but this study is from 1991 - i have to believe that dishwashers are more efficient 17 years later. it may not make them "win" but it would look a bit better for the old ceramic mug. we had to use this study in our switch from disposable to reusable kitchen stuff in the office. the stuff we were using was paper, not styrofoam, and paper turns out to take more water/energy than styrofoam (a ceramic mug breaks even with paper cups after fewer uses). still, people in my office were digging up this study, not reading it thoroughly, and posting it in the kitchen because they were annoyed at having to load a dishwasher.
and yes, the solid waste issue is a biggie! thanks for posting this, i'm just frustrated at my office, that's all :)
view akostalas's profile
this is really enlightening. i've been washing my own cups and utensils at the office, but use a LOT of water and which environmental impact was more severe.
on a side note, i work in an very un-green office where a lot of people order cases of bottled water and no one recycles. how can i get people to stop without seeming like a nosy or bossy butter-inner?
view swyyne's profile
Drinking coffee isn't green. Not unless you live in Kenya or Equador or Hawaii.
view SFGail's profile
Thanks SFGail, for beating me to it. The transportation cost of those beans is worth thinking about.
view hja's profile