week five [5]

DAY 7 [WEEK 5]: 10.19.08

Thanks to Jen for sending in this link to green compostable cups!

I'd been doing a bit of research too and found that there are many disposable cup options that are environmentally responsible. They're known as Nature based products made of food crops, bamboo, rice, etc. Spudware makes compostable hot-beverage cups and disposable utensils/ware out of potatoes. There's also disposable utinsils/ware made out of corn. I can't help but wonder why I'm not seeing these more often at coffee shops. I also can't help but wonder how much energy goes into making these cups in comparison to paper, ceramic, etc. This information doesn't seem to be readily available and I don't have the resources to find out for myself right now, but we have to consider the time that goes into farming the potato/corn materials, the fuel used in harvesting large crops, the water used if farming takes place in irrigation fields...there's a lot to think about and take into consideration.

Again, it depends on your environmental goals. If you wish to reduce your waste volume, stick with a reusable mug. If you wish to reduce your energy consumption, paper maybe be best, but there are things to consider if your paper cup is lined with plastics that never biodegrade and instead photodegrade (a break-down process where toxins slowly work their way back up the food-chain.) Now we have options like the potato and corn disposable cups that compost easily with no toxic trace elements...but these materials are farmed crops that consume energy in their farming practices and I'd be interested in researching the amount of energy involved in manufacturing processes that convert a crop into a plastic-like substance.

I'm finding that there is no one easy solution, and depending on your personal goals, it's a matter of picking the lesser of several evils...or simply the best option currently available that comes closest to meeting your goals and needs.

DAY 4 [WEEK 5]: 10.16.08

Scott from Alaska HDTV sent in a photo of his mug...this guy loves his coffee, his production company is called Perfect Blend Media. Take a quick trip to Alaska via this link to his podshow...or download it from iTunes...it's worth it!