Could NoTree Be the Solution for Single-Use Disposable Coffee Cups?

Published

June 12, 2018

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Every year, 58 billion paper cups end up in the landfill. This isn’t because of lazy consumers not knowing which receptacle to throw their cup into, either—it’s due to the polyethylene lining the inside which can take twenty years to decompose.

And while the discussion surrounding single-use disposable coffee cups generally sticks to its ability to be recycled, it’s also important to note the other environmental factors at play. Manufacturing these items requires 32 million trees and 100 billion liters of water each year. Plus, it emits about as many greenhouse gases as 500,000 cars.

Theresa Christine Johnson

Theresa entered the world of design through The Dieline. With a background in writing and journalism, she has a passion for discovery and cultivating human connections. Her work for The Dieline is a constant journey to deeply understand all facets of the design process and to investigate what makes designers tick. Theresa’s writing has taken her snorkeling in between the tectonic plates in Iceland, horseback riding through a rural Brazilian town, and riding an octopus art car at Burning Man with Susan Sarandon as part of a funeral procession for Timothy Leary (long story). When not writing, she is planning her next trip or taking too many pictures of her cat.