Only one in 400 disposable coffee cups are recycled in the UK, with an estimated 2.5 billion thrown away each year, according to a new report by the Environmental Audit Committee.
MPs are thus proposing a 25p “latte levy” on disposable coffee cups and an outright ban if they’re not recyclable by 2023.
Also, with Pret increasing the discount offered to customers who bring their own reusable cups from 25p to 50p, it looks like 2018 might be the year that we tackle the coffee cup waste problem head on.
Here’s just some of the reasons why you should invest in a reusable coffee cup this year.
It cuts your plastic pollution footprint by a huge amount.
So by committing to a reusable coffee cup, you are taking huge strides in the fight against plastic waste.
Try out a KeepCup, prices starting at £10. These babies reduce your landfill footprint by 99% in comparison to disposable cups.
Reap the benefits of the reusable cup discount.
More and more coffee shops are offering money off your cuppa if you bring your own cup. Even the indies and local coffee carts are jumping on board.
If you frequent a Costa or Starbucks in your morning rush to work, both brands deduct 25p off the price of your drink if you have a reusable coffee cup.
So you’ll make the money back for the price of the cup itself in no time, or in roughly forty coffees (which is around eight working weeks’ worth). Talk about a worthy investment.
You could even give Starbucks own reusable coffee cups a go, for £1 a pop .
They retain heat for much longer than disposable cups.
Nothing compares to the heartbreak of taking a sip from your coffee cup, to find it has gone cold in two minutes flat.
Investing in a insulating coffee cup will ensure that your first (of fifth) fix of the day isn’t miserable and ice cold before you finish your morning emails.
Try a Thermos Thermocafe desk mug, for £10.
You can save yourself a fortune by making your morning coffee at home.
Instead of spending upwards of £15 a week on a latte every morning to help ease yourself into work, make yourself one for the journey.
The BYO Cup, a silicone lookalike to the disposable coffee cup and a bargain at £9.95, is a trendy, green alternative.
Put simply, it’s the future.
Stay ahead of the curve and invest in a sustainable coffee drinking option, for your purse and the planet.
For a glimpse into an even more sustainable future for coffee drinkers, try out an ecoffee cup for £12.95, which is made from natural, sustainable bamboo fibres.