Sustainable Caffeine – EVST 100: Intro to the Environment

The most challenging aspect of this past week has been changing my routine. There have been a few instances where I found myself reaching for a paper cup in lower, only to remember that I wasn’t supposed to. However, as the week went on, it was much easier to remember, and I even found that my routine began to change and adapt. I have found that by partaking in this experience, I have consumed much fewer cups of coffee. This is mainly because I find that carrying a mug around with me is too hard to remember and too inconvenient. If I find that I really want/need some coffee I have no problem remembering my reusable mug, and the benefits of coffee definitely outweigh the inconvenience of carrying a reusable mug around in those cases. The best part about this challenge is the flex that I have saved by drinking less coffee. Even though it’s only a few dollars, it definitely adds up over time. I also find that I am less rushed in the morning because I am not worrying about finding five minutes to get some coffee.

Using a reusable mug is definitely more sustainable than buying paper cups in the long-run. However, one aspect that I did not initially consider was the environmental impact of creating and washing the reusable mug. Even though this also has an impact on the environment, studies show that after just a few uses the reusable mug becomes more sustainable. I have used my reusable mug a few times, so I am being more sustainable when using it. There have been a few times when I have surrendered to my caffeine addiction, but I have found a few more sustainable ways to do this. Organic coffee is more sustainable than nonorganic,and black tea is even better and emits only half the amount of carbon that a cup of coffee does (Wylie 2012). So if I do really need caffeine, I go for organic coffee or black tea. Even though I feel guilty about using a disposable cup, at least my caffeine choices are more sustainable.

https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=28765

Abby Zeller says:

April 23, 2014 at 1:20 am

Alison, I am doing exact thing with trying to cut back on plastic and paper coffee cups. Before, I found it too inconvenient to fill up my own cup and make my own coffee, but after researching I’ve seen the effects that cutting back over time have on the environment. It’s also saved me time and money because I do not order a coffee from skillman everyday that costs 4 dollars!

Jeremy Forsyth says:

April 23, 2014 at 2:20 pm

As the duration of the challenge increases, I’ve found it much easier to remember to drink from my reusable water bottle, however; I’ve noticed the majority of my waste (since it’s no longer disposable water bottles) is from paper coffee cups. I drink a large amount of coffee at school, but these blog posts on coffee usage are making me think twice, or at least attempting to use a mug or a coffee thermos. Washing the mug routinely is likely negligible compared to the amount of paper saved from drinking coffee on a regular basis – I think your progress so far is great.

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