In 2006, it is estimated that paper cups accounted for 252 million pounds of garbage resting in landfills.  Paper cup use in 2006 also accounted for 4 billion gallons of water wasted, 6.5 million trees cut down, and 4,884 billion BTU’s of energy used. [1] In an effort to reduce such negative environmental impacts on our planet caused by disposable coffee cups the organization, Sustainability is Sexy, was founded.  Their mission is to motivate coffee drinkers to use reusable coffee cups instead of using disposable paper cups.

Sustainability Is Sexy encourages reusable coffee cups amongst coffee lovers because they want every step of the coffee process to be sustainable.  They do this by helping coffee houses, universities, businesses, and others run campaigns that promote reusable cups and educated local coffee drinkers.  One campaign at the University of Washington helped save an estimated 153 thousand cups from ending up in the landfill.

They realize that coffee cups are a small thing for most people, but hope that the Sustainability is Sexy message can be a gateway drug into a more eco-conscious mind.  It is SIS’s Director, Nicko Fusso’s, belief that "Once people begin noticing disposable coffee cups, we hope they begin to notice other habits that have an eco-impact; such as plastic water bottles and grocery bags. So drink responsibly, and bring your own coffee cup!" If you want to help in the efforts of eliminating paper cup usage in your community, consider starting a Sustainability is Sexy Campaign. Click here for tips on getting started.

If you don’t already have a reusable coffee cup, order a Peace Coffee Stainless Steel Tumbler.* Not only will your coffee stay hotter longer but many coffee shops give you a discount on your coffee when you bring your own mug. Cheers!

*Generally, manufacturing reusable cups creates a bigger environmental impact than that of paper cups.  However, that impact lessens over time as the reusable cup is reused.  Each reusable cup has a “breaking point” – the point at which it becomes more environmentally friendly than a paper cup. A study conducted by Sustainability Engineer Pablo Päster shows that after 24 uses, a stainless steel mug breaks even with paper cups.[2]  Considering that most reusable mugs are designed to be used for 3000 uses, the positive environmental impact of reusables can be enormous.

[1] Figures based on papercalculater.com & the Environmental Defense Organization.
[2] Ask Pablo. Disposable Cups vs. Reusable Mugs. December 17th, 2007.
http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/askpablo-disposable-cups-vs-re-002788.php

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