A reusable coffee cup — a way to care for the environment
Awareness of environmental issues has grown considerably in recent years. We increasingly take our own bamboo, cotton or jute bags when shopping for groceries. So why not bring a reusable cup when going to a café for coffee? Let us explore the reasons to make the change!
A reusable cup — a first step towards greener habits
There is no doubt that single-use plastic products, such as cups, cutlery and water bottles, create serious environmental problems. The frantic pace of life may seem to impose habits we must accept, but it does not have to be that way. A busy lifestyle can coexist with greener choices. On your way to work, university or while travelling, make your companion a reusable coffee cup, not a disposable one.
One important point deserves attention: most disposable coffee cups cannot be called eco-friendly. They are made of paper lined with polyethylene plastic. This makes them waterproof but also makes recycling difficult through ordinary paper-recycling systems.
Starbucks says stop to disposable coffee cups
Reusable coffee cups are becoming more popular worldwide, including in Poland. Since beginning its Polish operations, Starbucks has offered to prepare coffee in customers' own cups, with a PLN 1 discount on any drink. The world's largest coffeehouse chain also joined the Polish Zero Waste Association's #zwłasnymkubkiem — “with your own cup” — campaign and the eco-map created by the association and the Oddam Odpady initiative. The map shows where, and which drinks, customers can buy using their own cups.
Gdynia backs reusable city cups
In February 2021, an exciting environmental initiative was announced: residents of Gdynia were to be the first in Poland to use an innovative city-cup scheme pioneered by Gdańsk-based UR CUP. The cups were designed to be made from safe, durable polypropylene as a practical alternative to disposable cups. According to Gdynia City Hall, each reusable city cup could replace at least 1,000 disposable cups over its usable life.
The scheme was designed around a circular economy, preventing litter and wasted material. New reusable cups would go to partner outlets, while worn or damaged cups would be collected and granulated for use in producing new cups.
For customers, this meant “renting” a cup and later returning it to a participating outlet to recover the deposit. The innovative city cups were scheduled to appear in early spring 2021.
Reusable coffee cups — do you have yours?
These examples show how important it is to raise awareness of reducing disposable packaging. The zero-waste idea should guide us all. It is encouraging that the trend is growing, with both more environmental initiatives and more active supporters.
Our online coffee, tea and accessories shop offers a distinctive greener option: the Huskee cup. What makes it special? It is made using coffee husks, an organic by-product of coffee processing that is repurposed for cup production.
Huskee cups use materials tested for safety. HuskeeCup is non-toxic and free from BPA and harmful substances. It is also durable, resistant to cracking, dishwasher-friendly and designed to keep drinks hot for longer — particularly welcome for coffee. The ridges on its surface help protect your hands from heat.
By choosing a reusable Huskee cup, you contribute to reusing substantial quantities of coffee waste and support the environment. Take a step in the right direction and order a reusable Huskee coffee cup in your preferred size, 177 ml or 236 ml, and colour, Natural or Charcoal.
Read also: Increasingly in the spotlight: the secrets of organic coffee