Say no to single-use
Switch out plastic coffee cups for a reusable alternatives
Your Challenge
Replace your throwaway coffee cup with a reusable alternative. Take it with you on at least three walks or outings this month.
There are some handy collapsible ones on the market now which won’t take up much room in your bag.
We have reusable water bottles and coffee mugs available in our WWF online shop if you wanted to stay on brand. As a My Footprint App user, you can receive an exclusive 10% discount on all merchandise by using the code APP10.
Why you're doing this
Takeaway coffee cups have a plastic film inside to prevent liquid from escaping (even those that claim to be biodegradable). They’re then packaged with cardboard to make them easier to hold. This makes them ‘mixed material’ and very difficult to recycle, so the only place you can recycle them (if at all) is at a coffee shop.
The plastic lining is made from fossil fuels, which means it’s linked to environmental destruction, pollution, and emissions that result in climate change. Not only this, but we also drink microplastics that leach from the lining when hot liquid comes into contact with them. In a year, we could drink 37,000-89,000 microplastics from using disposable coffee cups. [1]
An estimated 4% of all coffee cups used end up as litter every day – that’s 500,000 cups a day! [2]
How you'll make a difference
By grabbing your favourite hot drink in a reusable cup, that’s one less person using single-use plastic. That means less plastic waste in our oceans and landfill, in the natural environment as litter, and fewer microplastics in our bodies.
The more people do it, the more others will too, because of what’s known as ‘social norming’. So help us to set an example and encourage others to do it too.
Track your progress
in the My Footprint App
Track your progress and discover many more challenges in the My Footprint app. Available for iOS and Android devices.
