Categorieën: Alle - sustainable - resources - pollution - chemicals

door Amanda Krause 7 jaren geleden

343

Environmental Implications of Paper cups

The production and disposal of disposable paper cups have significant environmental impacts. The manufacturing process demands substantial resources, including millions of trees and large volumes of water, contributing to deforestation and water consumption concerns.

Environmental Implications of Paper cups

Disposable Paper Cups. What are the environmental implications?

Chemicals

Chlorine dioxide in production (Gehrman, 2014).
Polyethylene in the cup (Gehrman, 2014).

Pollution

Pollution caused by logging
Water Pollution
Chlorine dioxide is used with water in the production of paper cups. Can be harmful, if disposed of incorrectly (Gehrman, 2014).
Land pollution
Pollution caused by production of the cups
227Kgs of greenhouse gas emissions are released for every 10,000 cups released (Gehrman, 2014).
6.5 million BTUs, equivalent to 245Kgs of coal is used in the production of 10,000 paper cups (Gehrman, 2014).

Landfill

Australians use 1,000,000,000 coffee cups each year (Whyte, 2016).
20 year decompasition time (Gehrman, 2014).
Not recyclable everywhere

Sustainable Options

Are foam cups a better option?
Foam takes over 1,000,000 years to decompose, 50 years to decompose if in water. However, harmful to marine life (Gehrman, 2014).
Less water involved in the creation of foam cups 17.973 liters to make Foam cups (Gehrman, 2014).
Lighter, Save on fuel when transported.
Travel Mugs

Resources

Water
30,643 liters of water to make 10,000 paper cups (Gehrman, 2014).
Wood
20,000,000 trees cut down annually (Gehrman, 2014).
Fuel (for transportation)