Energy Conservation Project

How my use of paper coffee cups effects the environment

by Bethany Waggoner

QuestionsQuestions

How How often do I buy coffee in a paper often do I buy coffee in a paper to go cup?to go cup?

What resources go into making each What resources go into making each cup?cup?

How would using my refillable How would using my refillable stainless steelstainless steel

mug every time I buy coffee change mug every time I buy coffee change my ecological footprint?my ecological footprint?

FACTs:FACTs:Recycled paperRecycled paper cannot be used for cannot be used for paper coffee cups paper coffee cups because it is because it is not not FDA approvedFDA approved for for foods and beverages foods and beverages and cannot hold and cannot hold liquid. liquid.

Most paper coffee Most paper coffee cups are made from cups are made from 100% bleached virgin 100% bleached virgin paperboard.paperboard.

Paper coffee cups Paper coffee cups are laminated with a are laminated with a plastic residueplastic residue to to protect them from protect them from leakage and insulate leakage and insulate them.them.

This residue makes This residue makes the cups non-the cups non-recyclable, i.e. recyclable, i.e.

TRASH!TRASH!

harvesting harvesting treestrees

using using machines machines to turn wood to turn wood into wood chipsinto wood chips

washing the washing the wood chips, wood chips, adding more adding more waterwater

processing processing the wood chips the wood chips into pulpinto pulp

pressing pressing paper pulp into paper pulp into paperpaper

FACTs:FACTs:Manufacturing paper cups takes a lot of Manufacturing paper cups takes a lot of resources. resources. It involves:It involves:

FACTs:FACTs:

Manufacturing a Manufacturing a stainless steel stainless steel coffee mug takes coffee mug takes resources too.resources too.

One steel mug is One steel mug is equal in equal in material material intensity to intensity to 24 24 paper cups.paper cups.

Based on the Figures by the Environmental Based on the Figures by the Environmental Defense Organization, I will calculate how Defense Organization, I will calculate how my personal use of paper coffee cups effects my personal use of paper coffee cups effects the environment.the environment.

MethodologyMethodologyI will keep track of how often I buy coffee I will keep track of how often I buy coffee in a paper cup for the month of October. in a paper cup for the month of October. With this data I will estimate how many With this data I will estimate how many paper cups I buy on average per year.paper cups I buy on average per year.

October 2008

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

Data for:Data for:

I used 14 paper coffee cups in the month of I used 14 paper coffee cups in the month of October.October.

14 x 12 months = 16814 x 12 months = 168At that rate, I use about 168 paper coffee At that rate, I use about 168 paper coffee

cups per year.cups per year.

AnalysisAnalysis

How does my use of paper coffee cups effect the How does my use of paper coffee cups effect the environment?environment?

Cups Used Wood Consumed (tons) Trees BTU's of EnergyStarbucks 2000 1,900,000,000.000 113,000.000 780,000.015 580,000,000,000.000Starbucks 2006 2,300,000,000.000 136,789.474 944,210.544 702,105,263,157.895US 2006 Consumption 16,000,000,000.000 951,578.947 6,568,421.179 4,884,210,526,315.790Once a Day 365.000 0.022 0.150 111,421.053My Yearly ConsumptionMy Yearly Consumption 168.000168.000 0.0100.010 0.0690.069 51,284.21151,284.211x 25 yearsx 25 years 4,200.0004,200.000 0.2500.250 1.7241.724 1,282,105.2631,282,105.263Steel MugSteel Mug 24.00024.000 0.0010.001 0.0100.010 7,326.3167,326.316

# of Homes (powered) Wastewater (gallons) Swimming Pools (Olympic) Solid Waste (lbs)Starbucks 2000 6,400.000 470,000,000.000 710.000 30,000,000.000Starbucks 2006 7,747.368 568,947,368.421 859.474 36,315,789.474US 2006 Consumption 53,894.737 3,957,894,736.842 5,978.947 252,631,578.947Once a Day 0.001 90.289 0.000 5.763My Yearly ConsumptionMy Yearly Consumption 0.001 0.001 41.55841.558 0.0000.000 2.6532.653x 25 years x 25 years 0.0140.014 1,038.9471,038.947 0.0020.002 66.31666.316Steel MugSteel Mug 0.0000.000 5.9375.937 0.0000.000 0.3790.379

AnalysisAnalysis

By using the same steel mug over 25 By using the same steel mug over 25 years, I would save:years, I would save:

4,176 paper cups4,176 paper cups .249 tons of wood (498 .249 tons of wood (498 lbs)lbs) 1.714 trees1.714 trees 1,274,778.947 BTU’s of 1,274,778.947 BTU’s of EnergyEnergy 1,033.01 gallons of 1,033.01 gallons of wastewaterwastewater 65.937 lbs of solid waste65.937 lbs of solid waste

In one year of my paper coffee cup In one year of my paper coffee cup habit I use:habit I use:

168 paper cups168 paper cups .01 tons of wood (20 lbs).01 tons of wood (20 lbs) .06 trees.06 trees 51,284.211 BTU’s of energy51,284.211 BTU’s of energy 41.558 gallons of 41.558 gallons of wastewaterwastewater 2.653 lbs of solid waste2.653 lbs of solid waste

ConclusionsConclusionsUsing a refillable mug is a simple way to Using a refillable mug is a simple way to reduce my ecological footprint. reduce my ecological footprint.

Looking around Kaladi brothers as I type this Looking around Kaladi brothers as I type this I notice that at every single table customers I notice that at every single table customers are drinking from paper coffee cups. Not only are drinking from paper coffee cups. Not only are these cups made from virgin paper, they are these cups made from virgin paper, they cannot be recycled, they are purely waste. cannot be recycled, they are purely waste. I want to encourage you I want to encourage you to ask for coffee “for to ask for coffee “for here” if you plan to here” if you plan to enjoy it in a coffee shop enjoy it in a coffee shop and to bring your own mug and to bring your own mug if you need it to go.if you need it to go.

It’s a simple way to be a It’s a simple way to be a better steward to our better steward to our planet.planet.

Call for Further StudyCall for Further Study

Most coffee shops Most coffee shops offer a discount if offer a discount if you bring your own you bring your own mug.mug.

How much How much moneymoney do I do I save by ditching save by ditching the paper cups?the paper cups?

References

1. “The Basic Problem with Coffee Cups.” Sustainability is Sexy. University of Washington. <http://sustainabilityissexy.com/facts.htm> October 15, 2008.

More ideas for conserving energy

1. Bartos, Lorene. “Energy Conservation Ideas.” Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper. February 2007. <http://lancaster.unl.edu/home/Articles/2006/Top10Energy.shtml> November 10, 2008.