Take your time

8 million tons of plastic enters the sea every year, and at this rate by 2050 we will face more plastic in the ocean than fish. This impacts countless marine birds and animals through entanglement or poisoning, often leading to death. In turn, plastic waste reaches humans, through our alimentation, since microplastics are even found in our table salt and tap water. A recent study showed that more than 80% of water samples collected from over 5 continents tested positive for plastic fibres. Moreover, plastic lids are one of the most common items found on beaches worldwide.

Unrecycled plastic takes hundreds of years to break down, meaning lots of it ends up impacting the natural environment. One big issue with disposable coffee cups is the disconnection between their alleged recyclability and the rate at which they are actually recycled. Technically they are recyclable, something that some coffee companies actively promote on their packaging. However, due to the complicated way in which they are produced, most coffee cups do not end up being recycled. The reality is that less than 1 per cent of coffee cups ever end being recycled.

For these reasons, it is of the utmost importance that we cut our plastic consumption, especially of single use plastic such as plastic cups and straws.

So next time, instead of drinking your coffee on the go while being stressed and pushed around, why don’t you take your time to enjoy a steaming coffee out of a real cup? You can also use our online tool to challenge yourself to cut plastic consumption for a couple of weeks, as part of a city-wide competition!