Disposable Paper Cups. What are the environmental implications?

Fuel (for transportation)

Wood

20,000,000 trees cut down annually (Gehrman, 2014).

Water

30,643 liters of water to make 10,000 paper cups (Gehrman, 2014).

Travel Mugs

Are foam cups a better option?

Lighter, Save on fuel when transported.

Less water involved in the creation of foam cups 17.973 liters to make Foam cups (Gehrman, 2014).

Foam takes over 1,000,000 years to decompose, 50 years to decompose if in water. However, harmful to marine life (Gehrman, 2014).

Not recyclable everywhere

20 year decompasition time (Gehrman, 2014).

Australians use 1,000,000,000 coffee cups each year (Whyte, 2016).

Pollution caused by production of the cups

6.5 million BTUs, equivalent to 245Kgs of coal is used in the production of 10,000 paper cups (Gehrman, 2014).

227Kgs of greenhouse gas emissions are released for every 10,000 cups released (Gehrman, 2014).

Land pollution

Water Pollution

Chlorine dioxide is used with water in the production of paper cups. Can be harmful, if disposed of incorrectly (Gehrman, 2014).

Pollution caused by logging

Polyethylene in the cup (Gehrman, 2014).

Chlorine dioxide in production (Gehrman, 2014).