A coffee cup to-go may seem fairly harmless to the environment. Its made mostly of recyclable paper, for instance, and weighs next to nothing on its own. Yet it takes up to 200 liters of water to produce each cup, and the process utilizes toxins and glues in the manufacturing. Plus the volume in use of such cups creates an enormous solid wast problem. Not to mention the plastic lid. Take it from the oil industry; the paper coffee cup is problematic for the environment (their alternative is even worse).
The simple coffee cup is emblematic of the problems our everyday choices create for the environment. Simple alternatives can make a huge difference when used at a large scale. The change to using reusable coffee cups really can make the world better.
This post is about some of the small ways we can change the way we live.
This is not an exhaustive list, but it provides simple changes we can all make every day.
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Seven years ago I took a personal oath to not cause the use of bottled water, and have stuck to it completely. I drink a lot of water, too. That happens when you move from Hawai’i to a dry place like Arizona.
It was far easier than I expected. Though, to be fair, I was highly motivated. There are so many reasons bottles of water are horrible for us and the environment. What if you don’t care about the environment? There’s still a very clear economical benefit, as drinking tap water is 3000x more cost effective.
And the numbers are staggering. In 2006, Americans used 17 million barrels of oil in the production of disposable water bottles. And the usage keeps increasing in the 14 years since.
Carrying a reusable bottle everywhere you go is the best thing we can do for our oceans, our food sources, and our bodies.
This book was a major inspiration for us. So many thoughtful ways to reduce the use of plastic.
There are some great products for everyday objects around the house that can be replaced with non-toxic and non-plastic materials.
One example is switching to bamboo toothbrushes. The feel and quality is superb and there a lot of manufacturers. They can be composted too. (Some claim to have plant-based bristles as well, though we have not verified this.)
There are also hemp shower curtains. They can be used as liners or on their own for an earthy, even biophilic, bathroom element. They work very well in dry Arizona, but can be waxed for damp climates.
And making your own amazing yogurt is easier than you would think- to get rid of those plastic containers.