As the days turn colder and the mornings darker, I find myself rolling out of bed with less enthusiasm than ever. While I don’t need caffeine for energy, I do find a hot beverage comforting in the morning. It makes leaving my warm bed a little less regrettable.
Sitting in my comfy armchair with a steaming mug of coffee or tea is a delightful way to start the day. Unfortunately, my mornings are usually more rushed and require the to-go version. And while the environment may not be the first thing on your foggy morning mind, it’s important to consider the impact of mugs.
I’ve talked about ditching single-use coffee cups before and switching to reusable versions, since cups create a mountain of waste. In a nation of caffeine addicts, it’s estimated that Americans throw away roughly 25 billion coffee cups every year!
So, give yourself a minute to wake up, pour yourself a cup of your favorite hot drink, and settle in for a cozy read about some of my favorite eco-friendly mugs. It’s sure to get your gears grinding!
Top Marks for Aesthetics
Designed by baristas to wage war on plastic, KeepCup is one of my favorite eco-friendly mugs. For those of you for whom aesthetics matter, the glass and bamboo KeepCup is a game changer! However, the company also inspires me with their focus on environmental impact.
KeepCup was first released in Melbourne in 2009, and the company puts it best, “The goal was always to kick start behaviour change, from discard to reuse – to deliver a positive global campaign that would change the status quo.” It’s true that single-use cups are familiar and convenient, but I certainly love the idea of challenging and changing the status quo.
I always look for transparency in a company, and KeepCup is an open book when it comes to their environmental impact, business practices, and giving. They have certainly earned their B Corporation status. Based on research done in conjunction with Edge Environment, they have found that their KeepCup Thermal has a lower carbon impact than disposal cups after just eight uses. Additionally, they believe in minimal packaging where possible, using recycled and FSC certified cardboard. If any parts are faulty, they employ creative recycling measures such as donating broken plastic KeepCup parts to be made into curbside recycling bins.
Even their offices strive to be eco-friendly, harvesting rainwater to flush toilets and water the gardens! In addition, the office is also solar powered.
What’s in the cup?
You’re probably wondering what makes these eco-friendly mugs so sippable. KeepCups are made in a few different designs, but they are all barista standard. This means that they fit under group heads, contain industry standard volumes, and have a to-go press lid. Additionally, they are easy to pour into, which means that baristas can still add a cute design on top if they wish!
I mentioned the glass and bamboo KeepCup. This design features a glass tempered cup, bamboo band, Polypropylene alloy #7 lid, and a plug. But for those of you who may be a bit more clumsy, KeepCup also offers a more durable thermal option. The lid and plug remain the same, but the cup itself is made from stainless steel.
The company also makes replacing individual parts easy to further limit waste. For example, if you lose the bamboo band, you can just purchase another band, instead of an entirely new cup!
Best for the Campfire
It’s possible that glass and bamboo just don’t fit your lifestyle and that’s ok! If you are an outdoorsy, camping fiend then United by Blue would love to be your friend. Check them out for all your camping essentials but note that they offer many everyday reusables for the adventurer. If portable and durable are your number one concerns for eco-friendly mugs, they have quite the product collection.
But first, what does United by Blue stand for? They believe that “change comes in waves” and promise to remove one pound of trash from oceans and waterways for every product purchased (anyone else getting a water theme?). Aside from the ways they give back, their factories are all GOTS-certified and materials are sustainably sourced. They’ve held B Corporation status since 2011, meaning they are considered to be a company that balances purpose and profit. And, as of this year, they are officially 100% plastic-free!
Camping Cup Contents
United by Blue cycles through different cup designs, and most are stainless steel. Right now, the No Bounds 10 oz. Insulated Steel Carabiner Cup is a great option. It’s a BPA-free, stainless-steel cup with a powder-coated fun graphic. I appreciate the nod to camping and nature in their graphics. It always makes me excited to get out and breathe in the fresh air.
The addition of the carabiner to the cup is also useful. It makes for a great handle that doubles as a way to attach the cup to your bag. Coffee drinkers know how important accessibility is, even when camping.
If you browse their website, you’ll find many other design options and graphics. So, look for the one that best suits your next eco-friendly camping adventure!
For All-Day Insulation
Camping is a wonderful escape, but most of my days are spent in the office. Although I would love for my workday to start with calmly answering emails and drinking my coffee, it’s often a bit more hectic. With current mask requirements, I can’t drink on-the-go, so my coffee gets left at my desk. More often than not, I get back an hour or two later and realize I’ve barely made a dent in my drink. If this sounds like you, then keeping your beverage hot is probably a primary concern.
Enter Klean Kanteen. They are on a mission to keep your coffee hot while addressing climate change. Klean Kanteen focuses on limiting their greenhouse gas emissions, donating 1% to the planet, and treating their team like family. As another B Corporation company, they consider “environmental responsibility more than a single initiative.”
Steaming Hot & Chillingly Cold
Whether you are trying to keep your beverage hot or cold, Klean Kanteen’s vacuum sealed, eco-friendly mugs will do the job. Featuring a chip-free powder finish, BPA-free stainless steel, and climate-lock, their mug promises to keep beverages hot for eleven hours or iced for up to thirty-eight hours!
This mug is the perfect all-purpose option. It’s great for everyday use or for long adventure days. While the United by Blue cup is a solid choice for the campfire, the Klean Kanteen travel mug will keep your contents at the ready for the longest of hikes. It fits perfectly in car cupholders and backpack side pockets, while being durable enough to survive quite the fall.
Stay Safe, Stay Home Mug
Even if you are usually an on-the-go adventurer, the world is a little different right now. More people are working from home than ever. So, it’s quite possible that your travel mug is currently gathering some dust. Maybe you’re in the market instead for old-fashioned, eco-friendly mugs. Compared with travel mugs, most regular mugs tend to be more eco-friendly anyway. This is simply because it’s rare to find a plastic mug, and they have fewer components overall.
While it’s still important to take note of what the mug is made out of, my advice would be to focus on finding an eco-friendly company you love supporting. Then, see if you can buy your new favorite stay-at-home mug from them. I am so passionate about building up these companies that are focused on positive environmental changes and treating their workers well.
For example, I’ve mentioned cocokind before as one of my favorite personal care companies. They recently released some beverages and a simple, glass cocokind mug to go along with them. Though I have too many mugs in my cabinet right now to justify purchasing more, this would be an example of supporting a company I am passionate about.
A Whole “Latte” Love
I want to be clear that I am not advocating for throwing away mugs that you already have. I still have mugs from childhood! Instead, I think it’s important to consider better options for the future when items do need to be replaced. In addition, think twice before popping another single-use K-Cup into your Keurig. There are reusable K-Cups out there that you can fill with your own coffee grinds.
Drinking coffee and tea has long been about community. So, let’s continue to engage in meaningful conversation over steaming cups of goodness. Sending a whole “latte” love your way on this brew-tiful day!
Be Well. With Love.
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