IMO, we don't need disposable cups of any kind at all. They could as well serve a can or bottle in drive-thrus.
this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2024
13 points (100.0% liked)
zerowaste
1367 readers
4 users here now
Discussing ways to reduce waste and build community!
Celebrate thrift as a virtue, talk about creative ways to make do, or show off how you reused something!
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Ye, but that would defeat the point of it being super convenient
Maybe its me, but I don't find disposable cups convenient at all.
I already have bottles to refund, so the idea of getting drinks served in a piece of garbage for me to dispose of is just a nuisance. Also if I'm ordering for the whole family, I either need to have 4 vacant cup holders in my car or get another piece of disposable garbage to hold the disposable cups. I'd much rather have a standard PET bottle.
I'm with you on that one! Unfortunately that's just not most people. The best thing would be is if they'd just give up options. Sell the cup as an optional thing or something.
I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying cups are more convenient than cans or bottles?
No, the convenience (for most people) I think is in that they are able to get a drink regardless of planning. As long as they're in a car, they can get drive trough drinks. No need to have cups ready in the car.
Ah, I see. I think the original comment was saying that there's no need for a cup- A can is much more convenient, and you don't need to be carrying a cup already.
Looks like this company is doing just that: https://www.zhongruicup.com/
Not sure how the economics work out, I assume they are much more expensive.
This could be environmentally feasible if the factory ran exclusively on renewable energy, but if not, it would likely produce significantly more carbon emissions than paper cups.
A standard soda can wall is approximately 0.097 mm thick.
These cups are 0.16mm that's a big difference. They also don't have pricing and the site says how to clean and care for your cup.. it is not disposable.
They seem to be explicitly marketing them as disposable cups for 'eco conscience' events. So, likely for rich corporate conferences or something.
They definitely seem reusable, but probably not durable.
That's not the aluminum ones they make.
It says biodegradable cups.. aluminum is not that.
Also how to care for the aluminum ones https://www.zhongruicup.com/tips-for-cleaning-and-maintaining-aluminum-cups-extending-service-life
ah! my bad, they looked like aluminum so I assumed it was the same product. And you're right, the aluminum ones don't seem to be designed to be disposable either.
A can holds it shape cause it has the top and bottom. To make an aluminum cup would take a fair amount more aluminum and cost a fair bit more. It would prob be better, but no one is going to pay that much and toss them.
Aluminium cans work pretty well. The only thing needed would be to have a bigger hole at the top..
Aluminum cans are so thin to cut cost that they are like an egg. Open the end more and it will have no support to it.
They would need to be thicker and that would make it much more expensive.
You absolutely can open the top of one more.
I can use my tooth and take the top right off and make cups out of cans. Do it all the time camping.
They work fine except for the sharp edge because it's just like being opened with a can opener.
You can crush a disposable paper cup easier then a soda can with the top taken off
If they'd be getting recycled and/or reused, the price shouldn't be as high as new production cups
I think they would need a deposit system if your expect to get anything back on them?
Where i live we have 10 cent deposits for retuning all recycled bottles and cans
It's 15 cents for cans, 60 cents for bottles here
Ball (canning jar company) makes them, they are semi-disposable and recyclable.
I wonder what the price difference is between the ball aluminum and the red solo plastic?
Those look cool! Thank you!
A few years ago there was this effort to abandon disposable containers entirely, so you were encouraged to carry a durable reusable container instead. Whatever happened to that?
I don't think anyone who likes fast food liked reusable containers. Although my girlfriend always carries her water bottle everywhere.
Plastic cups currently have an advantage in that it’s fast and easy to pump out on a mass scale on the cheap.
Waxed paper is probably the next best thing for disposable cups. This is what McDonalds and other fast food places use and it’s renewable and biodegradable. The cost is probably pretty close to petro-plastic.
If we ever get a single use plastics tax, or the public starts freaking out more about microplastics, you will probably see restaurants return to paper cups.
The mcDonalds here gives us sturdy plastic cups that that'll buy back from you. (or you can leave them after dinner).
I'm going to have a look at this wax paper solution, that's an interesting option! Thank you!
There is some municipality that is taking this approach. All the restaurants use the same metal cups, and there are return bins around the area. Customers get a drink to go, and return the cup when they're done. It's washed and returned to the restaurant.
I'll have to find a source for this when I'm on my PC, currently on mobile.
ETA: It's Petaluma, CA. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/city-experiments-with-reusable-cups-at-starbucks-taco-bell-and-30-other-restaurants-with-return-bins-all-over-town/ and https://returnmycup.com/
Yoo, cool! I'll have a look, thank you!