This is on the front page of Care2.com, por favor go and vote for it!
Lil’ story; there’s a coffee place near here called Cup A Joe, which has some good coffee and a really nice atmosphere that reminds me of good ol’ Asheville. I’ve been there many-a-time, since they have two locations around NC State.
Anyhoo, last week, mi jefe wondered aloud why Cup A Joe uses styrofoam cups instead of paper. I was like dang, I don’t know. So I wrote them an email asking if they’d considered using paper cups, and asking how they could use styrofoam cups when they knew it made Captain Planet weep green tears. I got a quick reply which showed that they had indeed thought of “green” issues when making their business decisions:
Paper Cups Cause More Trash than Styrofoam Cups
It turns out that when Cup A Joe used paper cups, “almost 100% of [their] customers demand[ed] the added cardboard sleeve”, which the styrofoam cups do not require.
Also as well additionally, it turns out styrofoam is an excellent material for recycling. Here’s what Cup A Joe had to say: “We recycle a large percentage of the cups. Many customers return their used cups for that purpose. It is a small expense for us, but worth it.”
Paper Cups Don’t Biodegrade
Well, they do eventually (as does anything, eventually), but it takes much more time than I’d thought for a paper cup to biodegrade. The gubmint says, “Modern landfills are designed to inhibit degradation so that toxic wastes do not seep into the surrounding soil and groundwater. The paper cup will still be a paper cup 20 years from now.”
Paper Cups Use More Raw Materials and Energy Than Styrofoam (And Cost More)
This was a surprise to me.
“A study by Canadian scientist Martin Hocking shows that making a paper cup uses as much petroleum or natural gas as a polystyrene cup. Plus, the paper cup uses wood pulp. The Canadian study said, ‘The paper cup consumes 12 times as much steam, 36 times as much electricity, and twice as much cooling water as the plastic cup.’ And because the paper cup uses more raw materials and energy, it also costs 2.5 times more than the plastic cup.”
Reusable Cups Are Teh Way To Go
Final thoughts from Cup A Joe:
“Finally, we have always tried to provide an atmosphere and a level of service that sort of induces folks to sit down and enjoy their coffee in our shops. My guess is that we do more ‘eat-in’ business than all of the Starbucks in Raleigh put together. This sort of business means our people have to hustle to keep up with washing dishes, but also that neither paper, nor cardboard, not styro is needed to consume the coffee. Anyway, hope this helps. And thanks for asking. Frankly, we are surprised that more people don’t ask.”
There you have it. A good eco-friendly reason to (if you must use disposable cups) use styrofoam cups instead of paper cups. It sounded crazy to me at first, but after reading about it, I realized it was crazy like a fox.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
How about skip the taste of paper or styrofoam entirely and drink your coffee like a civilized adult, instead of some four-year-old at his birthday party in a party hat: use a real cup or mug.
It’s even eco-friendly, without the crappy synthetic aftertaste.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
great post. i love when simple steps toward living green just evolve out of nowhere like that.
brining your own mug is definitely the way to go! you should ask that coffee shop if they’d be willing to give a discount for patrons who bring their own mug. Even Starbucks gives a .10 cent discount for this.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
wow thats crazy. I had no idea.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:45 am
swag: I agree, reusable cups/mugs/tazas are the way to go. But you have to use reusable mugs MANY times to make up for all the extra energy it takes to make them.
Jeffery: Dang, that is a great idea. I’ll ask them if they’re willing to do that.
Matt Ellsworth: Me neither yo, me neither.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:21 am
pretty sure but not positive that the new paper cups that most eco-conscious coffee shops use is better than styrofoam. These compostable cups use corn sugars now not petroleum to line the inside (won’t break down with coffee heat, but will break down by microbes). Some include recycled products, some are made from corn not trees. they are also recyclable.
sure, in the best of worlds people would have a low-energy-produced long-lasting coffee mug (a ceramic made on a foot peddle kiln that never cracks or breaks no matter how carelessly one mishandles it…) though at this point, at least out of the home, what most oft replaces paper with are not very long-lasting plastic travel mugs (or styrofoam), and they are surely not healthy, inside (your body) or out (piled high at the dump).
February 14th, 2008 at 12:26 am
errrr it’s supposed to say foot peddle wheel and solar kilnn xo
February 14th, 2008 at 11:16 am
c-girl: Ah, I haven’t heard of those new paper cups, but they sound good. I’m guessing they’re more expensive than the disposable cups most coffee shops use — if they can get the price down, people will buy it.
Also, for paper cups, most people will use that extra insulation sleeve. Forilla, the best solution is just a reusable mug.
Dang, I used a foot-pedal wheel a LONG time ago, I need to get back to that.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:24 pm
What about polystyrene food containers then? Better in the same way?
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 am
The paper vs. plastic argument all over again. At one point, making styrofoam created CFCs (the same deleterious element associated with hairsprays). I don’t have the proof, but I think those production practices were made illegal.
I’m with the ‘best is a reusable mug’ set, with natural material cups next.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:39 am
[...] Javaholics everywhere have their own rituals and ways for consuming hot, steamy servings of charcoal water. But when it comes to buying coffee from a coffee shop, they usually deliver your half-caf mocha latte in a paper cup surrounded by that little carboard sleeve. Ever considered which was more “green?” [...]
February 26th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
[...] Paper Cups Versus Styrofoam Cups: Surprise Winner | Green Thinking for the Average Joe “A study by Canadian scientist Martin Hocking shows that making a paper cup uses as much petroleum or natural gas as a polystyrene cup. Plus, the paper cup uses wood pulp. The Canadian study said, ‘The paper cup consumes 12 times as much steam, 36 times as much electricity, and twice as much cooling water as the plastic cup.’ And because the paper cup uses more raw materials and energy, it also costs 2.5 times more than the plastic cup.” [...]
February 26th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
It’s a fine hypothetical argument when you’re sure that the cup will be disposed of in a certain way. Think of the worst case scenario … that the cup ends up in the ocean. Eventually those bits of cup will end up in the tummies of sea creatures. The paper bits usually pass … the plastic might but usually just clogs up the digestion of millions of creatures and is often the cause of early death of chicks for many seabirds.
Yes, go with reusable cups. But if I must buy coffee when I’m out and about (and I rarely do), it’s gotta be in a paper cup. (I throw mine in the recycling if I bring it home with me.)
February 26th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Unfortunately, Styrofoam leaches chemicals into hot food. It actually has less mass after drinking that hot coffee then it did before you put the coffee in it. That means you are ingesting it! Although paper does take a long time to biodegrade, styrofoam doesn’t biodegrade. EVER. Some counties have ban the use of styrofoam altogether. I do hope people are recycling it, but I am quite sure most people don’t. Recycling is actually not the best option as it takes energy. Bringing your own cup is better for you and the planet. Thanks!
February 26th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Yeah, in an ideal world, everyone would bring their own reusable cup. Some coffee places offer a discount if you do.
Drinking styrofoam sounds bad
If I don’t remember a reusable mug next time, I’m just gonna cup my hands and have them pour the coffee into them.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Alison is right on. There are many chemicals building up in our bodies that require a diet RICH in antioxidants to even stand a chance at being purged.
I’m loosely acquainted with a master herbalist who knows a mortician that informed her morticians are now able to use around 40% less embalming fluid than they once had to. Why?
Because we’re embalming ourselves while we’re alive!
February 27th, 2008 at 9:34 am
[...] Paper or Styrofoam? 27 02 2008 Paper Cups Versus Styrofoam Cups: Surprise Winner Eco Joe’s: LINK [...]
February 27th, 2008 at 10:04 am
@Jeffrey: Interesting. It seems like a cheap way to mummify oneself, if you just ingest a bunch of styrofoam and other fun chemicals.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I don’t know why paper is so bad, but i think paper cups are so much stronger than regular cups so i think we should try to make paper cups use less energy
February 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Paper cups are bad because they use a lot of raw materials, energy, and they cause more trash. Regular cups (I’m guessing you meant reusable mugs when you wrote that) are a lot stronger than paper cups.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
[...] For instance, Eco Joe’s lays out some good points on paper vs. Styrofoam cups. [...]
March 28th, 2008 at 6:37 am
[...] tazas de “papel” es más caro y usa más materias primas que las de poliestireno. En EcoJoes se menciona un estudio canadiense que afirma que hacer tazas de “papel” es 2,5 veces [...]
March 29th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
A lot of “assumptive” enviromentalists out there….
Styrofoam is much more enviromentally safe than paper.
-2grams of material compose a styrofoam cup versus the 25 grams of a paper cup
-Styrofoam does NOT breakdown which is a benefit in contrast to paper which doesn’t really breakdown but when it does it will pollute our groundwater with harmful inks and dyes. Styrofoam can be recycled.
-Simple math: there is a reason Styrofoam costs less than paper cups IT TAKES MUCH LESS ENERGY TO PRODUCE STYROFOAM THAN PAPER
Seems to me that much like we are learning now about how Bio fuels destroy the enviroment more than they help translates directly to the debate on paper vs. foam. To the causual enviromentalist paper is a better choice but to those who decide to educate themself and try to make a difference there really is only one choice. Foam is better for the enviroment that paper can ever be.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Folks, even Starbucks will tell you about issues with paper;
http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=792
April 16th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
The Myth of “Styrofoam Cups”
Styrofoam cups do not exist! “How can that be?” you say, “I just drank from one this morning!”
Nope. You probably drank from a polystyrene cup. Styrofoam is a trademarked material made by the Dow Chemical Company – and they do not make cups, plates, egg cartons or other food packaging products from it! A direct quote from Dow Chemical says: “Next time you get a cup of java to go, remember, you can’t drink coffee from a styrofoam cup – because there is no such thing!”
Interesting huh? At least we now know what we are actually debating.
taken from
http://www.grinningplanet.com/2008/04-08/foam-cups-polystyrene-cups-article.htmApril 16th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Blast you, I was wondering if anyone else was going to mention that. I’d say Styrofoam is in the same class of words as Scotch tape, Band-Aids, and Kleenex, in that it now means more than just a specific brand to most people.
But thanks for the information anyhoo
May 12th, 2008 at 9:42 am
dont you think paper cups are beter than strofoam cups kobie does i know that for shr
May 12th, 2008 at 9:44 am
hey ecojoe did you make up this web site?
i was just woundering?
May 12th, 2008 at 9:46 am
what gaige was saying is paper is stronger, and can’t you recycle paper cups anyway because there paper duuuu
May 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Kobe, when did you forget how to spell your own name? Looks like skipping college was a mistake, buddy.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:51 am
will any one talk to me
June 4th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Do your homework people. Styrofoam weighs less as you use it. This means it is leeching chemicals into your food or coffee as you use it. Anyone who proposes the usage of this stuff is nuts.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Sell a re-usable mug that is bigger by the amount you save in not giving out cups at all! Offer to wash it out for ‘free’ OR: Make the cups from thick cheap durable heat resistant Hemp fiber! Hemp grow a new crop every year, not so for trees, and once oil is used it is gone! Hemp grows where weeds grow, in poorer soil, not fit for food-crops. Hemp is against the law because in 1930s, no one could detect TCP! so no one (the cops) could tell what you were growing! This is no longer true, we can detect TCP with a simple lab test, and press charges where needed! The law, however is still lost in the 1930s, much as our car industry and many other business practises in America are. We need to move to the 21st cetury or be mowed down by China, who is in the same race, but winning at the moment!
June 16th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Uncle B, I have to say I love your enthusiasm. If we do not beat China in the Hemp War, then who will????
No one, that’s who.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Has anyone considered the energy and waste water used when washing reuseable cups? I’m in an office where we just got rid of our styrofoam cups – only reuseable mugs from now on. But we don’t have a dishwasher so these mugs must be individually hand washed. This must use a lot of BTUs. Is anybody really thinking about these things or are we all just going crazy?
July 17th, 2008 at 8:58 am
If you leave the hot water running the whole time you’re washing your cup, it will use a lot of water and electricity. But if you just soap up the mug, scrub it, then turn on the water to rinse it, you’ll save a lot o’ water and energy. Also, there’s not really a need to use hot water.
I also have to admit that I use a reusable mug at my work, but I avoid your problem by just not washing my cup.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I didn’t sift through all of the comments to see if anyone included this, but…
-what about the Chlouroflourocarbons that Styrofoam emits as it decomposes? The CFCs are absorbed into the atmosphere and eventually attack the Ozone layer.
-and the styrene that is absorbed in food/drinks that later, in small amounts, is ingested by humans and (when in waste disposals) animals? styrene can cause a disruption in hormone levels, low platelet counts, chromosome and lymphsome irregularities etc.
Interesting experiement, I was just wondering if the chemicals above were considered when advocating styrofoam over paper.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Luckily, “the CFC byproducts are a thing of the past“.
As for the styrene absorption, yes, that would be a knock against styrofoam. When it comes down to it, using a reusable mug is the way to go.
September 20th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
What is the better environmental choice for a 5K race event at the water stations along the course: paper cups or plastic cups which are not recyclable? How about the new PLA cups made from corn?
September 25th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I have always heard that molded polystyrene is NOT recyclable, but this article claims it is. Which is correct? What are the methods and what can be made from the recycled material?
I noticed that the UPS stores in Portland, OR, will take your polystyrene “peanuts” and bubble wrap and reuse them. That’s recycling! Of course, over time, these things degrade as effective protection for shipped breakables, so I hope they’re careful to check the quality of the recycled material.
I quit using polystyrene cups at work and at home. I have washable, reusable mugs that reflect my moods and personality.
Much more fun, much easier on my conscience.
September 26th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Hey Holly: polystyrene IS recyclable, but the same things that make it great for packaging (lightweight, durability, and cheap cost) usually make it cost-prohibitive to transport to recycling centers.
Here’s a good summary of polystyrene recycling:
http://www.ci.concord.ca.us/living/recycle/env-styrofoam-peanuts.htm
Of course, it’s always better to reuse than to recycle, so por favor try to reuse polystyrene packaging materials, AKA styrofoam peanuts.
October 11th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Employee asked to compare pricing of large quantities of paper hot and cold drinking cups with hot and cold stero cups for hospital use / patients and staff.
I have to prove that they can afford to use paper instead of styrofoam cups profitably …. cost the bottom line with dietary and administration.
Please give me web site for researching and resourcing documents that show them they can afford quality paper hot and cold beverage cups as well as they can afford to use stytofoam in this new critical care hospital facility in Wichita, KS.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I don’t know about a website with price information on that, sorry.
Hey, how about you guys use reusable cups, in the long run it would save you money and save some resources, yeah yeah?
October 20th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Myra:
I just came across ecoproducts.com doing the same for an elementary school. Cost for the corn-based cups listed on the site. Hope it helps.
October 30th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
BS. I refuse to believe that styrofoam is eco-friendlier than paper. Haven’t you ever heard of the island of trash in the Pacific ocean?
October 30th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Yeah, you mean the one that’s 80% plastic and doesn’t really have anything to do with paper or styrofoam cups? I’ve heard of it.
November 18th, 2008 at 4:07 am
Yeah, I've heard about that. Like I said earlier, reusable cups/mugs are the way to go fo' sho'.
November 18th, 2008 at 4:08 am
Sadly, they don't give a discount to people who bring their own mugs
Qué lástima
November 18th, 2008 at 5:20 am
Along with taste, do you know what you're consuming when drinking out of a styrofoam cup? For every liquid that you drink out of a styrofoam cup, the styrofoam releases about .025 percent into the drink. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but if you drink four drinks a day out of a styrofoam cup for just three years, you may have consumed about one styrofoam cup. And as i agree with everyone here, styrofoam doesn't break down. Maybe you'll rethink the cup thing and just buy a mug for work. Starbucks will even give you a discount if you provide your own re-usable cup.
December 13th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Dont forget, also, that a paper cup is RARELY just paper. It has to be coated with wax, plastic, or other chemical to prevent it from becoming mush when it comes in contact with liquids. Basically, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't, and if you want to really make an impact on the environment, stop worrying about silly "6 of one, half-dozen of another" debates like this, and put your efforts into something that really matters.
December 13th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Exactly, that's what I'm saying. The best thing is to use REUSABLE cups; less waste, better quality cups, and more durable.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
forget all of this stuff people its almost christmas time
January 10th, 2009 at 6:00 am
hu?
January 13th, 2009 at 8:43 am
What are the paper cups coated with so they don't disintegrate when hot liquid is added? Whatever it is, are we ingesting that, too? It isn't as if these paper cups aren't loaded with chemicals and dyes and bleaches and what not.
January 15th, 2009 at 2:18 am
COOL
February 5th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Never in the history of commercial Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) have CFC's or HCFC's been used to expand it. Those blowing agents have been used for a different material named extruded polystyrene (XPS) which hass less uses and different appearance
February 9th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
myra, I work in a hospital and have been challenged to prove that paper is a better alternative than styrofoam. Sounds like you may have the answer to that question. I would be grateful for a reply.
February 9th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
If it's at all possible, I recommend using reusable cups. They'd cost more initially, but would save money (and lots of waste) in the long run. You'd be helping the environment while saving money and bettering the image of your hospital.
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Bring you own mug wherever you go. If you just have to have a cup of coffe on the go, use that cup or thermos. Is is not hard, just a new way of living and thinking. Also bring your own containers for left over foods when dining out. Hey, tell the restaurant that it is a win win situation if they look at you as you are nuts. The save money and the customers helps the environment!
February 28th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Paper cups are typically coated with wax or polyethylene, both are petroleum-based and non-recyclable. There is a significant movement within the paper industry to develop water-based recyclable coatings, and there have been documented successes with this approach. Poly layers are incorporated into milk cartons and other paper food packaging as well. There are fines imposed in Europe for landfilling these materials. Remember that manufacturing processes are ultimately influenced by the end consumer. Great strides have been made in both paper and plastic packaging to reduce environmental effect and increase sustainability. In paper, most mills have fairly closed water loops and recovered fiber plants, and employ recovery boilers that essentially reuse all the byproducts. In plastic, PLA's from corn, etc. are slowly establishing a foothold. But until they make a plastic coffee cup that doesn't leech chemicals into the coffee, comes from a renewable source, and biodegrades to soil in the backyard, I'll go with paper if confronted with the choice.
March 26th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
kool
March 26th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
i agree
April 1st, 2009 at 10:35 pm
THIS IS MISSING CRITICAL INFORMATION! So it takes over 20 years for a paper cup to decompose…how does that compare to the 900 years, or 2000 years, or 1+ million years for the Styrofoam cup? Those varying numbers – - no one knows! Because NOTHING decomposes styrofoam. Geez, what horrible misinformation here!
Not to mention, some styrofoam cups CANNOT BE RECYCLED.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I for one can taste the "styrofoam"(polystyrene) when I drink something hot from them. That means I am ingesting chemicals . If we stick with the industry lobbyist theory that paper is worse than polystyrene I will have to be recycled soon. By the way in most parts of the country there is VERY limited styrofoam recycling.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Maybe I wasn't clear enough… disposable cups (paper or styrofoam) are both bad in different ways. The best (and easiest) thing to do is for everyone to use reusable cups — cheaper (in the long run), better for the environment, and better insulation and taste.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
all you have to do is search (why is styrofoam is bad)
THIS IS THE WAY TO GO …..http://www.ecoproducts.com/cms/category/1.html
TRUST ME THIS IS THE NEW GREENER WAY TO GO
May 19th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Domestic Solar Power…
It looks like we have similar ideas on this subject….
June 8th, 2009 at 5:36 am
A few things to keep in mind….polystyrene is from a non-renewable resource. It is designed to be disposed of, and most is. Less than 1% is actually recycled. Styrofoam emits Benzene (convulsions, vomiting are just a few side effects) and Styrened into the air and into our food. The EPA human tissue study years ago found 100% of all samples of human fat contained Styrene (headaches, anxiety, blood abnormalities…). Animals eat the stuff. They choke and die, their digestive tracts get clogged. To say that it is better than paper is strange thinking my friends.
June 15th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I think it is slightly misleading to say that paper cups do not biodegrade at all. If they are correctly sorted and composted then they do indeed biodegrade, likewise they can be easily recycled if such a scheme is available. However the sad truth is that a lot of the time these cups are, as you say, simply disposed of and throw in a landfill with the rest of the household waste.
June 19th, 2009 at 4:14 am
All this GREEN stuff if killing me. Straight from the people who thought the world was coming to an end in Y2K. People never learn. Follow the money and you'll see why companies are pushing green!
June 20th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
All the green stuff is coming from people who used to worry about how COBOL stored dates?
August 17th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Hocking's papers are starting to become a little dated and are full of exceptions. I have not read the paper Vs Styro one but I know this is true for his paper Vs ceramic articlle.
Maybe cup of Joe could offer incentives for consumers to bring their own?
August 27th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
The cups shown above are not Styrofoam. Styrofoam is a Dow Chemical trade name and is never made into cups. This is expanded polystyrene, not Styrofoam. Styrofoam is extruded polystyrene and made into sheets of foam that are light blue and used to insulate your homes. I am surprised Dow Chemical has not sued you back to the stone age for using their trade name..
August 27th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
What makes you so sure that they HAVEN'T?
August 31st, 2009 at 3:20 am
Hi ecojoe and Matt and the rest of you noble souls,
Mug are definately the best way to go. Set teh example for everyone else by taking your mug to coffee shops, work and any other place you visit.
Also, you should know that yes, paper cups take 20years to break down, but styrofoam takes over 500years to break down. This is fact! i am a climate educator and looked into this quite abit.
Therefore, as the great Gandhi said: "Be the change you wish to see in the world".
October 16th, 2009 at 4:51 am
I just want to stress that this article is blatantly one-sided (and I'm glad some of you guys did already realize that). And I still refuse to use styrofoam. It takes 50 years for a paper cup to biodegrade but it is also important to know that despite the fact that the article says everything biodegrades at eventually, styrofoam doesn't. You cannot say that something that takes millions of years to biodegrade is biodegradeable; we live in hundreds of years. I am all for the reuseable mug–thirft stores have mountains of them for cheap, too. But if you're going to use a cup you want to throw away; make it a paper one. I'm not one to advocate landfill-use, but it is the lesser of the much greater evil that is styrofoam. The posting of this article just validated millions of people's decision to take 5 steps back to styrofoam and that's just sad.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:07 am
im doing a science fair project this is exactly what i needed!!
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:52 am
Annnnnnnnd people are still more concerned about the rate at which materials biodegrade, instead of the rate at which they are killing themselves by using said materials as mediums for food and drink consumption. Stop using them.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
At least a dozen U.S. cities have banned polystyrene aka styrofoam for these reasons:
1. It's a petroleum product that NEVER breaks down.
2. It's made with benzene, a carcinogen and neurotoxin that should never come in contact with food.
3. It's toxic when burned
4. It makes up 30% of landfill waste
5. It blocks the digestive tract of animals when ingested
6. recycling it just creates more
Do some research folks. Refuse to use it. Bring your own cups.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I agree 100% to GREEN108.
To the people who are reading this, think on a larger scale how one's actions can impact the environement. We all have opportunities to take action, but at the very least, we can take our own cup or mug.
The paper cups we use also come wih a wax coating. Though it may be recyclable, it still costs a great deal of electricity and water to reproduce.
The Styrofoam cups, well its not rocket science and nor do you have to understand rocket science to know how harmfull these cups are to the environment.
Follow the four "R" 's in life…and you have done the least…
-REFUSE
-REDUCE
-REUSE
-RECYCLE
November 16th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
but what i think you have to look up is how bio degadeable is a styrofoam cups aren’t eighter. and if i remember right the take longer to disiigrate compared to some paper products. True when you know they are being recycled styrofoam might be a better chioce but if you use them say in a school cafiteria there’s no way you know for sure if there being recycled.
November 18th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Thanks for all the recent comments… I shall be posting a look back at this question soon, hopefully after doing more research than I did the first time.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
i love pie
December 8th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
c girl you smell
December 13th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
im all into keeping the planet safe and all that stuff but in my opinion when you drink out of a styrofoam cup you can taste the styrofoam and the little white things fal off in your mouth so i would rather use a paper cup.
December 13th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
no efense david but no one really cares what it is really called. we called it styrofoam and so should you!
February 7th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
And someone out there actually thinks polystyrene is GOOD for you? Polystyrene leaches PBA's. Do you know what those do to your body? Cancer, anyone?
We, the good old USA need to catch up with Europe where all these poisons are banned by the government. This also includes use of LEAD in artificial Christmas trees and and all electrical cords and supplies…..
February 8th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Please give me some links to research on this subject other than from those who are preaching to the choir. The links seem to be circular just stating what the previous one said. I cannot find the actual research that these statements are based on. Not that they are not true, but rather to make a convincing scientific argument, I will need the research.
February 11th, 2010 at 8:16 am
[...] http://www.ecojoes.com/styrofoam-cups-vs-paper-cups/ as ever the debate wages over how plastic is chepaer and light so more environmnetally sound….though you have to take into account how its going to be disposaed of and wether you can be sure that it will go the right way. … what it really bioils down to is that no one use disposable can really be good for the planet [...]