killthecardboardcup.com blog

New blog address

2010-06-08T07:11:00.001-07:00

Kill the Cardboard Cup has moved!

Check out our new blog address at http://killthecardboardcup.com/blog/.

Thanks!

Donate to WWF AND get a cute reusable cup!

2010-06-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

Donate to a good cause and get this cup!

This eco-friendly thermal porcelain cup holds 14 ounces of your favorite beverage and is dishwasher and microwave safe. Cup features a leaf print design, and includes the WWF panda logo on one side and "We seek to save a planet, a world of life" quote on the other. The silicone band surrounding the cup protects your hand from hot or cold beverages. Look eco-chic while helping reduce wasteful consumption of throwaway cups. Take this with you the next time you make your coffee run!

Learn more about the WWF at www.worldwildlife.org.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

2010-04-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

Earth Day Festivities took place around the globe last week. In New York City, the Earth Fair was hosted outside of Grand Central Station.

I stopped by the EPA's booth and snapped this photo:

Good to see that the EPA is supporting an end to the Cardboard Cup! Do you have your reusable mug yet?

Mug Hugs

2010-03-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

Want to drink from a reusable cup, but worried about spilling your hot coffee all over you?

Fear no more, Mug Hugs are here!

Mug Hug is a reusable, flexible lid designed to fit medium sized mhttp://www.mug-hug.comugs. They had two purposes in mind when creating this product. First, to prevent spilling for mugs on the go for convenience. Second, to reduce the use of disposable paper cups and plastic lids that are filling up landfills around the globe.

Mug Hug is ideal for the office, commute, and for the home. Not only does it prevent spilling, but it keeps your drink warmer too!

Disposable - The Billion Cup Blood Bath

2010-03-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

A coworker passed this video on to me.

Gets the point across.

Disposable - The Billion Cup Blood Bath from Zac Whyte on Vimeo.

Mona Lisa Coffee Cups

2009-08-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

A much more creative way to use coffee cups...

Unfortunately, I don't think any of the cups in this video were reused, but if you're going to use a disposable cup, at least think of creative uses for it after (or before) your coffee is done...

Source: Mona latte: Da Vinci's Lisa masterpiece recreated using cups of coffee, Daily Mail (UK)

Cardboard v. Styrofoam v. Ceramic

2009-08-01T23:06:00.000-07:00

Cute cartoon, read the blog post at NOVA - The Big Energy Gamble.

Starbucks Summit on Recyclability of Cups

2009-05-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Last year, Starbucks CEO Howard Schults committed that Starbucks' entire stock of coffe cups will be recyclable by 2012.

Starbucks'vice president of Global Responsibility, Ben Packard, invited 30 cup, cupstock and coating manufacturers, recyclers, waste managers and university researchers to Seattle this week to discuss creating recyclable coffee cups.

Some of the research presented showed that many of the cups are already recyclable to recover paper pulp. In fact, a coffee cup can be converted into a pizza box in just three days.

Starbucks is looking to implement a pilot program in Manhattan in which specialized bins will be placed to collect cups and paper bags, which will then be sent to Staten Island’s Pratt Industries for recycling.

The key to recyclability of paper cups is their material, as some (such as Starbucks’) are made of old corrugated cardboard (OCC), and others are mixed paper.

Mixed paper is a lower grade of paper that has less value when recycled. Although many of these cups are lined with wax for temperature control, this can be removed prior to recycling.

Panelists discussed the possibility of better labeling for these cups in regards to recyclability, with one suggesting that compostable cups be labeled with a brown stripe. North America is responsible for 60 percent of the 220 billion paper cups used globally each year.

Source: Reuters, earth911.com

The Photographer's Reusable Cup

2009-05-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

Finally, a reusable cup for the photographer!

7-11's reusable cups!

2009-04-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

Get a reusable cup at 7-11 and a free coffee.

Contigo's No-Spill Beverageware

2009-02-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

Contigo developed the AUTOSEAL technology, which automatically seals between sips, and has integrated the exclusive lid system into a line of travel mugs and bottles. The Contigo AUTOSEAL line of products are all FDA approved and BPA free.

"Now more than ever, people are trying to find ways to save money," Sami Elsaden, CEO of Contigo said. "By forgoing a daily stop at a coffee shop, consumers can save up to $2,000 a year as well as reduce the use of Styrofoam and cardboard cups, which is ultimately good for the environment."

UNBC Green Day

2009-02-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

Watch a video on how the University of Northern BC is celebrating Green Day by focusing on waste reduction. The Green Day organizers have adorned the ceilings with used disposable coffee cups from waste audits showing how there is too much waste.

Link

C2C-coffee cup

2009-02-13T15:54:00.001-08:00

C2C coffee cup takes the concept of cradle-to-cradle and applies it to the design of a coffee cup. The design team chose the disposable paper cup; the ‘C2C’ coffee cup is manufactured at the cafe from the waste stream of the cafe. Used coffee grounds are mixed with paper pulp and a polylactide resin (made from corn derived dextrose), then pressure-molded into shape.

The physical design itself originated from the wish of providing not only a directional feature to the cup, but also to provide a friendlier shape and more secure grip. C2C is fully biodegradable with its final elements being 100% compostable. Manufacturing of C2C provides for an animated feature in a cafe, since most of the process will be visible.

Thus the grounds used for "your" drink would make up "your" cup. However, "your" cup grounds content will actually be from someone else's brew, since there will be a certain cycle delay, when taking mixing, forming, drying, and cooling into consideration. But technically, one brew makes its own cup.

67 spun copper cups

2009-02-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Art Gallery's new exhibit, How Soon is Now: Contemporary Art from Here, brings together 34 British Columbia artists working in sculpture, painting, video, audio, architectural interventions, site-specific projects, performances and events.

The exhibit features the above piece by Sonny Assu called ,67 spun copper cups, grande size. Art takes on the disposable cup yet again.

410,000 cups every 15 Minutes

2009-02-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

Photographer Chris Jordan uses photography to illustrate the staggering scale of human consumption. In this series of pictures titled Paper Cups he depicts 410,000 paper cups - equal to the number of disposable hot-beverage paper cups used in the US every fifteen minutes.

Pretty shocking and appalling.

Partial zoom:

Detail at actual print size:

Disposable coffee cups kill trees!

2009-01-30T10:25:00.000-08:00

greenUpgrader has an article The Scourge of the Forest: Disposable Coffee Cups.

Read the article for more information on the damage caused by disposable cups and some good visuals.

Reach for the Top of the Tower

2009-01-28T11:54:00.000-08:00

Recycling drive proves tall order

Since November, Lisa Wilson at Brock University's Science Stores has crossed paths with 36,592 paper coffee cups, which, when stacked, measure the height of 7.3 Schmon Towers, or about 370 metres.

It is hoped to encourage the proper disposal of these plastic cups, across campus, even after this initiative ends.

"Some of our goals are first, teach people to separate the lids, [which are] plastic recycling, from the cups, [which are] compostable." said Wilson

"The second, diverting 'good' garbage from the landfill and lastly, I'm hoping that the visual effect of actually reaching the top of the tower might encourage people to switch to refillable mugs.

"Once the challenge is finished, there will be bins [around the school] with vinyl identification on them, so hopefully it will continue."

Strange to Meet You

2009-01-26T17:26:00.001-08:00

A clip from the film that is (partly) about reusable cups (except the last skit). ;)

Coffee and Cigarettes, a film by Jim Jarmusch.

Modern life is rubbish

2009-01-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

Modern life is rubbish: litter is everywhere on Dorset streets

An article on litter in the streets with a shot of another abandoned cardboard cup...

London Coffee Cups

2009-01-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

Fast food firms taken to task after survey of street litter

Keep Britain Tidy named the most littered brands in England as McDonald's, Greggs, KFC and Subway. While types of litter around the country varied, in London coffee cups from a mixture of brands accounted for most litter.

Pledge to Kill the Cardboard Cup and keep your city streets clean of unnecessary waste.

Postcups

2009-01-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

The perfect gift for someone special! Designed to be sent like postcards, Postcups are microwave-safe white porcelain cups with a message on one side, such as “Miss You” or “Thinking of You”. The other side features a postcard design by Re Jin. Add a personal message and your recipient’s address – and it will be hand written it onto the cup and sent away.

put in bin but sadly

2009-01-12T12:50:00.001-08:00

put in bin but sadly
Originally uploaded by waldo pancake

Great design for a disposable cup!

At least it's declaring where it's going...

LOTS of Green

2009-01-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

In response to the takeaway culture where disposable items make up a considerable proportion of containers used on a daily basis, LOTS design introduced an alternative take-away cup - Imprint - that contributes to the taste sensation and can be used for a long time, throughout the day and by all generations.

Imprint is a thermo cup made of double-wall china with a painted gold rim and a tight-fitting rubber lid. The series comes in 2 sizes and a variety of color combinations.

Read more at LOTS of Green.

A ring to remember

2009-01-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

Need a reminder to bring your reusable cup? How about a handy coffee cup ring. Just to make sure you never forget!

BATTLEFRONT: RE-USE YOUR COFFEE CUPS - AIMEE NATHAN

2009-01-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

Check out Battlefront, another campaign to get you to bring your own cup and the nice video that goes with it:

Battlefront: Re-Use Your Coffee Cups - Aimee Nathan
Uploaded by Battlefronters

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf try going green

2009-01-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

Another Gripe

2009-01-08T14:09:00.000-08:00

Read another's gripe on disposable coffee cups.

KTCC Poster

2009-01-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

There is a new poster to print and distribute for Kill the Cardboard Cup.

The picture on the poster is called 'nest' by waferboard.

Also, be sure to check out other merchandise and groups on the "get involved" page of the site.

Garbage stinks!

2009-01-02T21:02:00.001-08:00

Garbage stinks!
Originally uploaded by ajfis2

The message is clear...

Starbucks Sackuccino

2009-01-01T13:07:00.001-08:00

Starbucks' most popular position in the Australian market

From a satirical article on Starbucks: Starbucks gives staff Double Mocha Sackuccino

Korean Disposable Cups

2008-12-09T19:02:00.001-08:00

Disposable cups 006
Originally uploaded by MimmoC

A set on flickr of interesting disposable cups in Korea: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mimmo-cozzolino/sets/72157605152747277/

WMF 1

2008-12-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

An interesting product, as a cool looking reusable cup and it makes coffee too.

The WMF 1 coffee pad machine can be used nearly at all places where you want to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee, whether in the office, on the terrace or even in the bedroom. In less than one minute your WMF 1 prepares a cup of flavoursome fresh coffee. The water tank contains the volume you need for one cup of coffee. Thus, you will always brew with fresh water. Insert a standard coffee pad of your choice into the pad holder. Just press the button, and in less than one minute your cup of flavoursome fresh coffee will be brewed.

Cupkin

2008-12-05T23:42:00.000-08:00

The Cupkin (cup + napkin) s a machine that handles waste and recycles disposable cutlery in fast-food restaurants. When you put a cup into the machine, you can see it being shredded to pieces and then sorted. From that “waste” napkins are made—the same ones available in the restaurants.

A creative solution to reusing disposable cups by Sondre Frost Urstad.

For the Price of a Cup of Coffee

2008-11-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

Trailer for short environmental documentary on paper waste, recycling and disposables called For the Price of a Cup of Coffee. Available at Green Planet Films.

Paper Cups, Green Alternatives

2008-11-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

Evil Coffee Cups

2008-11-19T12:24:00.000-08:00

Nicely done school project demonstrating the disposable waste stream of our society--namely paper cups.

Tim Hortons at it again...

2008-11-19T12:21:00.001-08:00

Another Pledge

2008-11-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

While you should definitely take the Kill the Cardboard Cup Pledge, here is another pledg: The Good Earth Coffee "Brew at Home" Pledge - a simple commitment to brew more and toss less.

Coffee Cup Catastrophe

2008-11-19T11:57:00.000-08:00

Do You Know Where Your Latte Mug Lands?

Another article supporting reusable cups...

Going Green: Coffee

2008-11-18T10:05:00.000-08:00

keepyourcup.com

2008-11-16T11:45:00.000-08:00

keepyourcup.com, another website that supports reusable cups.

Every cup tells a story of the landfill...

2008-11-11T18:20:00.000-08:00

Count the number of cardboard cups in Tim Hortons new ad campaign. Tell the story of the cardboard cups...

More Numbers

2008-11-06T12:51:00.000-08:00

1.) From Stanford University: Imagine the resources we would save if every coffee drinker brought a reusable cup to the coffee shop—even just for one day. If every Starbucks customer used a re-usable coffee thermos, we could save 1,181,600 tons of wood, 2,040,061,237 pounds of carbon dioxide, and 4,441,093,624 gallons of water every year. That’s more carbon dioxide than would be emitted if the entire population of San Francisco got in their cars and drove from San Francisco to New York. And it’s enough water to supply all of Los Angeles for 8 days.

2.) From Treehugger.com and Organic Style: “Take all the people who read this magazine, then persuade them to sip their morning coffee from a travel mug for one week. Result: Enough trees to fill two football fields will be spared the ax. Can't commit to a week? Switching to reusable cups for just one day will save as much energy as using 1,000 gallons of gasoline.”

Is it greener to drink from reusable cups?

2008-11-06T12:46:00.000-08:00

The Guardian explores whether reusable cups or cardboard cups are more green.

Conclusion: Bringing your own cup is the greener option.

Starbucks Reusable Cup Story

2008-11-06T12:37:00.000-08:00

Starbucks defeats the intention of my reusable cup

A story about Starbucks taking a reusable cup and making it pointless.

Tim Hortons unveils cup recycling bins

2008-11-06T11:49:00.000-08:00

Due to an increase in pressure by customers, Tim Hortons has hired Turtle Island Recycling Corp. to take coffee cups left behind in its Toronto stores and turn them into roofing paper or cardboard boxes.

Read the article here.

an office possibility

2008-11-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwEZnAXyglY

An okay solution for offices/public areas as all the components are recyclable.

Celina's Coffee Cup Project

2008-11-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

Another interesting project on throw-away cups.

Use a re-usable to-go cup - all the cool kids are doing it!

2008-11-05T13:33:00.001-08:00

Green Commercial - Reusable Coffee Mugs

2008-11-05T13:31:00.001-08:00

killthecardboardcup.com

2008-11-05T10:59:00.000-08:00

Visit killthecardboardcup.com for more information.