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7 Reasons To Buy A Reusable Coffee Mug
Having a cup of your favourite beverage on the way to work or on the school run makes the commute far more enjoyable. But with billions of disposable cups going to landfill each year, it's time to make daily coffee habits more sustainable. Here are seven reasons why you should say goodbye to disposable cups and buy a reusable coffee mug.
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Fill Your Travel Coffee Mug: 8 Vegan Drinks to Keep You Warm This Winter
When the temperature drops and the days get shorter, there’s nothing better than a mug of your favourite winter beverage. Whether you’re a coffee lover or you prefer a creamy hot chocolate, there’s plenty of warming vegan drinks that you can put in an insulated coffee mug for your morning commute, winter outings, or Christmas festivities. Although many of the most popular winter drinks contain dairy, most can be made vegan friendly simply by switching dairy milk for plant-based milk. In this post, I’ve put together a collection of festive vegan drinks for winter that you can make at home and drink on the go from a reusable coffee mug. 8 Vegan Drinks to Keep You Warm This Winter Warming Vegan Drinks for The Morning Commute Vegan Bulletproof Coffee For anyone who tends to skip breakfast in the morning rush, a vegan bulletproof coffee is a high-calorie drink that will add a bolt of energy to your day. This caffeinated beverage usually contains butter or ghee but the vegan version uses coconut oil instead. To make: add a cup of hot coffee to a blender with 1-3 tablespoons of coconut oil, depending how creamy you like your coffee. Mix in the blender, or mix by hand with a mini whisk, pour into your travel coffee mug and add sugar if desired. Ginger & Turmeric Spiced Tea Kick start your metabolism with a caffeine-free and healthy tea. This spicy vegan beverage is a popular weight-loss drink, but it’s also warming, flavourful, and easy to make. To make: combine half a litre of water with a tablespoon of ginger (grated or thinly sliced), a teaspoon of ground turmeric, and a stick of cinnamon. Bring to the boil in a saucepan. Simmer for about 5 minutes or longer for a stronger taste. Add a squeeze of lemon and sugar, optional, and pour through a tea strainer into a travel coffee mug. Vegan London Fog Latte If you like the smooth flavour of Earl Grey tea, then you’ll love the London Fog Latte. It’s a creamy drink made with Earl Grey and hot almond milk, or a plant-based milk of your choice, and sweetened with vanilla. Perfect for people who prefer drinks with a lower caffeine level. To make: put an earl grey tea bag in your reusable coffee mug and fill to about halfway with boiling water. Let the tea brew for 5 minutes or until strong. While the tea brews, heat unsweetened almond milk until it starts to froth. Use a saucepan for best results. Add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, mix well, and pour over the hot tea. For an extra creamy taste, mix in a tablespoon of coconut oil whilst heating the milk. Warming Vegan Drinks for Chilly Winter Walks Golden Turmeric Latte Full of flavour and packed with essential vitamins, a turmeric-infused latte is a healthy caffeine-free drink to get you through the winter. Like all the best warming vegan drinks, this one is quick and easy to make at home. To make: Combine one and a quarter cups of unsweetened almond milk, or enough to fill your travel coffee mug, with half a teaspoon of ground ginger, half a teaspoon of ground turmeric, half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and one or two teaspoons of maple syrup (or your preferred sweetener). Mix and heat in a saucepan or heat the almond milk in a microwave before mixing in the other ingredients. Peppermint Hot Chocolate Of course, a classic mint hot chocolate deserves a place on this list. Make it with a plant-based milk and dairy-free chocolate, and it’s a 100% vegan-friendly beverage. To make: in a saucepan, heat two cups of your favourite plant-based milk. When warm, add a bar of vegan dark chocolate (in small pieces) or dairy-free cacao powder and a tablespoon of sugar. Whisk over the heat until the chocolate has melted and mixed into the milk. Add a quarter teaspoon of peppermint extract, then transfer to an insulated coffee mug. Spiced Apple Juice For anyone who prefers a warming vegan drink without plant-based milk, this hot spiced juice is a lighter alternative. It’s simple to make with just a few ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard. You can even make a batch of it, store it in the fridge and reheat throughout the week. To make: in a saucepan combine two cups of apple juice, half a cup of water, a stick of cinnamon, a few slices of orange and lemon, a tablespoon of brown sugar, and a pinch of nutmeg (adjust quantities according to taste). Bring to the boil and simmer for five minutes. Strain into a reusable coffee mug and store any leftovers in the fridge. Also Read: 7 Reasons To Buy A Reusable Coffee Mug Warming Vegan Drinks for Christmas Vegan Baileys A rich coffee liqueur is a perfect dessert for your vegan Christmas dinner. It’s also something you can share with friends at the New Years firework displays. Vegan Baileys is lighter than its dairy alternative and has a delicious nutty flavour. To make: in a blender combine a can of full-fat coconut milk with half a cup of Irish whiskey, a quarter cup of strong coffee, four tablespoons of maple syrup (or another sweetener), and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Blend for two minutes and serve over ice. Vegan Eggnog Lighter and healthier than the traditional version but just as tasty, why not try a festive vegan eggnog recipe this winter. Put it in an insulated coffee mug, and you can take it with you for a wander through the Christmas lights at night or to an outside Christmas gathering. To make: in a blender combine 3 cups of plant-based milk with a can of coconut milk, half a cup of cashews (soaked overnight), 3 to 4 tablespoons of maple syrup (or another sweetener), a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a pinch of nutmeg. Blend until smooth and enjoy hot or cold from a travel coffee mug. Optionally, add a splash of rum or brandy for an extra warming winter beverage. Also read: Buying A Reusable Travel Coffee Mug With a high-quality insulated coffee mug and these winter vegan drinks, you’re sure to stay warm and cosy this festive season.Enjoy!
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Not Sure About Buying A Reusable Travel Coffee Cup? Here Are The Facts
This reusable travel coffee mug is double-insulated to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for longer. Let's check out the facts that why you should buy a reusable travel coffee mug.
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How to Tackle Waste with Your Morning Coffee Routine
Beginning the day with a freshly brewed coffee may well put you in a good mood but have you ever considered how your morning routine contributes to pollution? What and where you choose to eat and drink at breakfast time impacts the amount of waste you produce more than you might expect. Take coffee, the most popular morning beverage in the world. Your morning coffee ritual might not produce any plastic waste if you buy your coffee grains from a zero-waste store and use compostable coffee filters. But what if you use non-recyclable espresso pods or single-use filters every day or you buy your daily coffee in a Styrofoam mug rather than bringing a reusable travel coffee mug to your local coffee store. The point is, our daily habits are the cause of most unnecessary waste. Often, these wasteful habits are easy to change, particularly when it comes to food and drinks. Let’s use coffee as an example and consider how you can minimise waste in your morning routine. Reduce Waste with your Morning Coffee Routine What coffee do you buy for home? Rise and shine and time to drink coffee. But where did you buy your coffee from and what container did it come in. The most eco-friendly place to buy your coffee is usually a zero-waste store where you can bring your own coffee container, fill it with coffee grains and pay for the weight you take away. Unfortunately, you may not have a zero-waste store in your neighbourhood as they’re not that common yet. However, you can still reduce your waste by buying coffee that comes in recycled, recyclable and reusable containers. Glass jars or metal pots are ideal because you can use them in multiple ways before recycling them. Likewise, cardboard is a greener alternative to plastic because it’s recyclable and compostable. If you use an instant coffee machine at home that relies on coffee filters or coffee pods, consider a set of refillable coffee pods or buy compostable or biodegradable coffee pods and filters. Remember that, although brands may advertise their coffee pods as recyclable, most will go to landfill sites. How do you make your coffee? Like single-serving coffee pods, coffee filters are highly wasteful when used to brew just one coffee. To minimise waste, consider brewing a flask of coffee instead of a single cup. You can store the extra in a thermally insulated coffee mug or flask to drink later in the day or share with your colleagues at work. Additionally, you can take care to buy biodegradable or compostable filters that won’t block landfill sites for years and won’t pollute the soil. Alternatively, use a washable filter or switch a coffee machine for a classic French press or stovetop espresso maker. Reusing your coffee grinds is another way to minimise your morning waste. I don’t mean that you should make a second coffee from old grinds, but you can let the grinds dry and mix them into garden soil or pot plants. Where do you buy your coffee on the go? Do you buy your coffee from an automatic coffee machine at the gas station every day? If so, it’s probably made from a non-biodegradable single-serving coffee pod. Perhaps it also comes in a Styrofoam cup with a plastic stirrer even if you don’t want one. Buying from a coffee shop usually produces less plastic waste, but you should still be selective. Is your usual coffee shop a locally run business that takes steps to minimise daily waste, or is it an international chain that prioritises cost and convenience? Carefully selecting where you buy your morning coffee is one way to minimise your daily waste without sacrificing your favourite hot beverage. What do you put your coffee in? A disposable cup or a reusable travel mug? Whether you make your morning coffee at home or buy it from a coffee shop, think about what you put your beverage in. This is a key step in tackling personal plastic waste. Disposable coffee mugs, whether they are Styrofoam or plastic-lined cardboard with plastic lids, will end up in landfill or the oceans after just one use. The best eco-friendly alternative is an insulated travel coffee mug. A reusable travel coffee mug won’t just keep your morning coffee warm on the way to work but it will also greatly reduce your daily plastic waste. Also Read: Not sure about buying a reusable coffee mug? Here are the facts Let’s Clean Up the Morning Coffee Thinking about where you buy your coffee, how you make it and how you take it away with you, is the best way to tackle waste in your morning routine. Although I’ve used coffee as an example in this post, you can apply the same principles to any takeaway beverage, such as iced teas, hot chocolate, and warming winter beverages. Even if you prefer to drink your morning beverage from the comfort of your couch, there’s no reason you can’t put in an insulated travel mug, so it stays piping hot. For more inspiration, read 10 eco-friendly products to use on your lunch break or visit the FLASKE Collection.
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Swapping Disposable Cups for a Reusable Coffee Cup
Millions of takeaway coffee cups are thrown away each day but less than 1% get recycled. Many single-use coffee cups can’t be recycled because they have a plastic lining or drink residue inside. The rest should go to landfill or incineration sites where they’ll either be buried or burned but many don’t make it that far. In the 2020 UK Beach Clean, coffee cups and drinks containers were in the top 10 most found single-use plastics. It’s a similar story across most of Europe and around the world. Although many people have adapted to bringing a reusable mug to their local coffee shop, most people still rely on disposable cups. Hopefully, you’re already thinking about ditching plastic cups for good. Here, we’ll give you some tips for switching to reusable drinking mugs. Also read: How to be more sustainable with five simple habits. What makes a good reusable coffee cup? Travel coffee cups come in many shapes, sizes, and colours. They’re also available in various materials, so it’s important to know what’s the best reusable coffee cup design and what’s the worst. Of course, we love stylish coffee mugs as much as you do, but a practical design always comes first. After all, a no-spill reusable coffee cup will be easier to carry than an open cup. Equally, a reusable coffee cup with a lid needs to be easy to drink from while walking. Also, think about what material would be best for you. There are many options, including glass, stainless steel, silicone, or bamboo. Each material has its pros and cons. Glass is recyclable, trendy, and durable but it’s also the heaviest material. Silicone cups are lightweight and often collapsible, but they’re made from a type of plastic that’s difficult to recycle and non-biodegradable. Meanwhile, bamboo is durable, lightweight, and eco-friendly but it won’t insulate your drinks. We recommend choosing a flask cup made from double-walled stainless steel because the material is easy to clean, recyclable, non-toxic, durable, and lightweight. It also keeps your drinks hot or cold for hours. Plus, you can find stainless steel coffee flasks in a range of colours, so there’s no need to compromise on style. In short, stainless steel travel cups have all the best features. However, you’ll need to decide if that’s the right cup for you. Find the right travel drinking mug for your needs and you’re more likely to use it every day and say goodbye to disposables. How to get cheap coffee with your reusable mug There are several advantages of reusable coffee cups. One of which is that you can get a discount in many coffee chains and independent cafes. Bring your reusable coffee cup to Starbucks, Café Nero, Costa Coffee, Pret a Manger, and many other international chains. You’ll save money every time you buy a takeaway drink. Tips for remembering your coffee flask When I switched to using a coffee flask, my biggest challenge was remembering to take it with me. I often forgot it at home or at the office. Obviously, a travel coffee mug is useless when it’s left on the kitchen worktop, so I came up with a few tricks to get me in the habit of taking mine with me. If you’re also forgetful, try using these tips. Put your cup somewhere obvious What do you always take when you leave the house? Probably your keys, phone, handbag, or wallet. You’ll probably put on a jacket and shoes too. Keeping your reusable cup next to any of these items will make it almost impossible to leave behind. Put it in your bag If you prepare your work, gym, or school bag the night before, put your flask cup in at the same time. It will be ready to go so there’s no chance you’ll forget it in the morning. Reward & penalty Remembered to bring your reusable coffee mug? Great! Why not stop by a coffee shop and treat yourself to your favourite beverage. Forgot it again? Pay the penalty by skipping your morning coffee. After all, you don’t want to use a disposable cup anyway. Sticking to a simple reward and penalty programme might motivate you to remember your cup. Make your drinks at home Instead of buying a drink while you're out or waiting till you reach the office, try making your drinks at home. You can make your favourite coffee with reusable coffee pods, prepare a homemade iced tea, or try out some vegan drinks’ recipes. Make your drink just before leaving home, so it’s fresh in your mind. Fill it with water If you normally take a reusable water bottle, consider filling your coffee flask with water instead. That way, you don’t need to carry an empty cup with you. FLASKE’s coffee mugs are thermally insulated for hot and cold beverages so you can sip iced water while you’re out and about. Set a reminder Another tip for remembering your travel coffee cup is to set a reminder on your phone. Set the alarm to sound a couple of minutes before you plan to leave the house. That way, you’ll have time to run back and collect your cup without being late. Use sticky notes Although it may be old fashioned, it’s super effective. Write yourself a message on a colourful sticky note and put it on your front door. You’ll find the bright yellow note difficult to ignore, and before long, taking your travel cup with you will become an automatic habit. Want to know the benefits of reusable coffee cups? Here are the facts! Visit the FLASKE Collection to choose your personalised coffee cup today or subscribe to the FLASKE Blog for more eco-friendly living tips.
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8 Reasons to Give Personalized Insulated Coffee Cups for Christmas
The kids are writing lists, the office has a sparkling tree, and festive tunes are drifting out of every radio. Christmas time is here again! Choosing the best Christmas gifts is already a challenge. But, choosing Christmas gifts that won’t get thrown in the trash during a spring clean is even tougher. Too many Christmas gifts are novelty items, designed to be enjoyed for a short time, thrown away, and forgotten. This Christmas, why not give your friends, co-workers, and loved ones something more memorable. Something they can use every day of the year. Something personal. And, something that’s 100% recyclable. A personalised insulated coffee cup. Here are eight reasons why personalised insulated coffee cups make the best Christmas gifts. Why Are Personalised Insulated Coffee Cups the Best Christmas Gifts? It’s perfect for warming winter drinks Insulated stainless steel coffee cups are ten times better at keeping drinks hot than disposable coffee cups. As the chill creeps in, your giftee will really appreciate a coffee mug that keeps their winter beverage warm for hours. The 380 ml FLASKE Coffee Cup keeps drinks hot for up to 12 hours; just what every busy bee needs. It’s not just for coffee either. An insulated travel coffee mug is perfect for teas, hot chocolates, mulled wine, and other warming beverages. ….and cooling summer drinks The best thing about giving insulated coffee mugs as Christmas gifts is that they’re useful in summer too. Your friends and family can fill their brand new FLASKE travel coffee mug with the iced beverage of their choice, then enjoy it cold for up to 24 hours. The opening is wide enough for ice cubes and super easy to clean. The problems with drinking from disposable cups, most of which have plastic-liners, are no secret. Many contain harmful chemicals, such as BPA, that start to break down when filled with hot liquids. You can protect the health of your loved one with an 18/8 food-grade stainless steel coffee cup that’s free from toxic chemicals. It looks great Of course, the best Christmas gifts should also be stylish. Insulated coffee cups tick that box perfectly. They come in a selection of bold colours which makes them excellent Christmas gifts for men and women of all ages and styles. It’s a gift that won’t be regifted Great for the daily commute, kids camping trips, weekend hikes, minimising office waste, or for keeping your drinks at the right temperature while doing jobs at home. Because insulated coffee cups are so useful, you can be confident that your gift won’t be regifted, no matter who you give it to. That’s why reusable coffee cups make great corporate Christmas gifts or delightful secret Santa gifts. It’s sustainable Christmas is a terrible time of year for the environment because there’s so much extra shopping, food waste, and plastic packaging. A high-quality reusable coffee mug is a gift that helps to counteract the extra waste. Your giftee can get their daily coffee to go in their new insulated coffee cup and keep hundreds of disposable cups out of landfill. Plus, if you buy your personalised coffee cup from FLASKE, it will be sent to you in 100% recyclable packaging. And, you will support the Plastic Soup Foundation and donate 650 liters of clean drinking water per sold product for people in need. Also Read: Personalised Reusable Water Bottles It’s affordable A high-quality insulated coffee cup is a Christmas gift that doesn’t cost a fortune. It isn’t cheap or tacky either. A name-engraved insulated coffee mug that’s built to last a lifetime costs just under €35 including free shipment and luxury eco-friendly packaging. It’s personal Although insulated coffee mugs are useful Christmas gifts for everyone, they don’t have to be impersonal. Engrave the name of each person on your Christmas list or, customise the cup with a personal message for the special people in your life. Instead of a single-use novelty gift that’s bound to end up in the trash and in the oceans, give your colleagues, family, and friends a Christmas gift that they will appreciate for years to come. Check out the FLASKE Collection for personalised insulated coffee cup Christmas gifts!
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5 Eco-Friendly Gifting Ideas 🌿
This festive season, let's make a positive impact on the planet by choosing sustainable and eco-friendly gifts for our loved ones. Here are five tips to embrace green gifting! Conscious Companies: Seek out gifts from companies that prioritize sustainability, ethical practices, and social responsibility. We at Flaske commit to reducing single-use items to save the oceans! Reusable Joys: Opt for gifts that are reusable, such as reusable water bottles, coffee cups, or shopping bags. These everyday items not only reduce single-use plastic waste but also encourage a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. From water bottles to food pods, Flaske provides you with completely reusable products. We build products that last! Plastic-free packaging: Choose gifts that come in plastic-free packaging to minimize environmental impact. From beautifully wrapped items using recycled paper to creative and reusable packaging alternatives, these choices make a statement about our commitment to reducing waste. At Flaske we carefully wrap our products in recycled paper and ship them in cardboard boxes. Experiences Gifts: To complement physical gifts, consider gifting experiences that create lasting memories. It can be as simple as having dinner together with your loved ones. Gifts with a Purpose: Consider gifts that support a cause. Many companies collaborate with charitable organizations, and a portion of their proceeds go towards environmental initiatives. Here at Flaske, we donate part of our profit to Plastic Soup Foundation, a non-profit marine conservation organisation that aims to reduce plastic pollution. By making conscious choices this holiday season, we can contribute to a healthier planet and set the tone for a more sustainable future. Let's celebrate the joy of giving while protecting the environment. Wishing you a happy and green holiday season!
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Get Ready For Plastic Free July 2021
Millions of people have committed to ditching plastic for one month and living a less wasteful lifestyle. This year I’ll also be taking the Plastic Free July Pledge. I hope you’ll join me! What is Plastic-Free July? Plastic Free July is an annual global challenge organised by The Plastic Free Foundation, a non-profit established in 2017. They launched the first Plastic Free July Eco-Challenge in 2011. Now a global operation, Plastic Free July encourages people to give up single-use plastics for one month. Throughout the 31 days, you’ll refuse plastic bags and turn down disposable bottles. You’ll avoid plastic-packaged foods and opt for recyclable containers such as glass, metal, and paper. The challenge aims to raise awareness about plastic pollution by making you understand how dependent you are on single-use plastics. The foundation believes that one month without plastic is enough to help you build everyday habits that benefit the environment. Read Also: Why we support the Plastic Soup Foundation How to use less plastic in your daily life If you’ve already signed up for the Plastic Free July Challenge, congratulations! The next step is preparation. You’ll find the challenge much easier if you start using less plastic before July 1st comes around. Here are some tips to help you deal with the most common plastic problems. Buy a reusable water bottle Single-use plastic bottles and other drinks containers are some of the most common items found in beach cleanups. According to the 2020 International Coastal Cleanup Report, volunteers collected over 1.8 million plastic beverage bottles and over 600 thousand plastic lids. In fact, seven of the top 10 collected items were related to food and beverage packaging/containers. Fortunately, it’s easy to cut single-use containers out of your daily life. During Plastic Free July, get used to carrying a reusable water bottle in your bag wherever you go. You can refill your bottle at work or use an app to find out where you can refill it for free while out and about. The FLASKE Bottle comes in four sizes so that you can stay hydrated no matter the size of your bag. Also Read: Promote your brand with custom water bottles Start bringing your own bags If you don’t already have a reusable cotton tote, now is the time to get one. Tuck it into your bag or jacket pocket so that you can refuse plastic bags on your next trip to the store. A couple of mesh bags are also useful when you’re buying unpackaged vegetables from the grocery store. Make your toiletries and cleaning supplies Many toiletries and cleaning products are easy to make at home with everyday kitchen supplies like baking soda, vinegar, and coconut oil. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon, especially for families. Alternatively, you can stick to your Plastic Free July pledge by buying unpackaged toiletries or toiletries in recyclable packaging. You can often find soap and shampoo bars without packaging or in cardboard boxes. Also, search for plastic-free deodorants, washable makeup pads, and metal safety razors. Additionally, choose cleaning brushes, cloths, and sponges made from eco-friendly and biodegradable materials instead of plastic. If you want to buy liquid soaps, shampoo, or cleaning products, try to source your nearest zero-waste store. Some high street cosmetic stores, like The Body Shop, have refill stations. This means you can buy their products without buying a new container. Use reusable sanitary products There are many inexpensive zero-waste alternatives to tampons and disposable pads. These reusable alternatives include menstrual cups, washable pads, and washable period underwear. Shop online with care When you buy something online, it might come in plastic packaging. During the Plastic-Free July Challenge and beyond, check the company packaging policy before purchasing a product. To keep it simple, only shop from eco-friendly online stores that package their products in recyclable materials. You can also reduce plastic waste when shopping online by placing larger orders from the same retailer instead of ordering single items from different stores. That way, your items will be packaged together. Also Read: Best sustainable welcome gifts for new employees Eat homemade meals Food wrappers and takeaway containers are also commonly used plastic items. You can massively reduce your plastic consumption and eat healthier by cooking meals at home. Choose fresh ingredients and lose vegetables instead of ready meals and buy dry foods in bulk instead of small packs. You can get creative with herbs and spices instead of buying premade sauces or buy products in reusable containers. If you’re worried about food waste, have a couple of reusable food containers ready. You can store the leftovers and eat them for lunch the next day. Prepare your drinks at home Instead of getting a takeaway coffee when you’re out, make your tea, coffee, or other beverages at home. Put them in a travel coffee cup and take them anywhere you want. Why not experiment with these four fruity iced tea recipes. If you prefer to buy your drinks from a café, remember to bring a reusable coffee flask or choose to drink your beverage in the store. Also Read: Swapping disposable cups for a reusable coffee cup Keep a plastic diary Plastic is integrated into so many everyday products that you might not realise how much plastic you use. Keeping track of the plastic products you use most often will help you understand what changes you need to make. There are a couple of ways to keep track of your plastic consumption. You could make a list in a notebook, use a spreadsheet, or download the MyPlasticDiary app. Take advantage of Plastic Free July resources The Plastic Free July initiative offers tips and resources to help you get started and ditch plastic. On their website, you can access informational videos, checklists, and plastic-free ideas. You can also download a Plastic Free July poster and help raise awareness of the challenge or follow the Plastic Free July Facebook page. Check your trash Looking in your bin will teach you a lot about your wasteful plastic habits. If you find that your bin is mostly filled with disposable food containers, think about buying a reusable food pot. If it’s mostly food packaging, try shopping at a zero-waste store or buying in bulk instead. If single-use cups and plastic bottles take up a lot of space, maybe you need a coffee flask or a stainless steel water bottle. Get Ready This challenge will not be easy, so get ready in June. If you make one change every day from today, you’ll find July 1st is less of a shock. For help and support, why not encourage your friends, family, and work colleagues to use less plastic for 31 days? It’s time to start the eco-friendly journey. Are you ready to sign up for the Plastic Free July Challenge?
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Why Is Plastic Bad for the Environment?
You've probably noticed that many of your favourite brands are making an effort to go plastic-free. Governments are slowly introducing bans on disposable plastics, and you might be adjusting to bringing your own mesh bag to the grocery shop. You might have also asked yourself why is plastic bad anyway? How Does Plastic Harm the Environment? You may already know some reasons why plastic is bad for the environment but let's refresh. Firstly, plastics are mostly made from oil, a non-renewable material that's impossible to extract without causing damage to the environment. Not only does drilling and extraction disturb wildlife habitats and cause pollution in local communities. But the whole process releases millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. Secondly, plastic doesn't disappear. Not for a very, very long time! As you probably know, plastics can take hundreds of years to degrade fully. As we use plastic products much faster than they can break down, we now accumulate more plastic waste every day. That occupies a lot of space on our planet and causes problems on land, underground, and oceans! Why Is Plastic Bad for the Ocean? Littering, fly-tipping, and poor plastic waste management means that a huge portion of our plastic waste is in waterways and oceans. When the plastics break down into smaller pieces, sea life and birds often mistake the pieces for food. Moreover, plastic waste tends to collect in places like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – often called the Plastic Soup. Once it's broken down into tiny pieces, most plastics float below the surface, making it difficult to remove. Why Is Plastic Bad for You? Countless studies show a connection between BPA and other plastic chemicals and health issues and conditions caused by hormone imbalances. This is because plastic chemicals can leach into water. So, even if you buy a bottle of pure mineral spring water, it will be contaminated with plastic chemicals and microplastics. Why is Plastic Bad for Recycling? Yes, you can recycle some types of plastic into another product. However, many of the most common plastic products, such as food packaging, takeaway containers, and plastic bags, are not accepted at recycling facilities. This is because recycling these types of plastic is not economically viable or unsuitable for recycling. Instead, these non-recyclables go to landfill sites or incinerators. And, if you've accidentally put a non-recyclable plastic in with the recyclable plastics, the whole batch could get thrown away. Of course, recycling high-quality plastics helps to minimise plastic waste. But plastic fibres aren't like metal or glass because they degrade, meaning that you can only reuse them a few times. That's why recycling plastic is a bad solution to the plastic problem. Why Are Plastic Water Bottles Bad When They're Reusable? Reusable plastic bottles are definitely an improvement on single-use plastic bottles. Obviously, if everyone switches to reusable plastic water bottles, we're going to see a reduction in plastic waste. Less disposable bottles equal less waste. Why are plastic bottles bad for the earth? Even reusable plastic bottles have their drawbacks. Plastic, whether it's single-use or reusable, is still made from a non-renewable source and still poses the same problems when it degrades. Even reusable plastic bottles contain and release synthetic chemicals when they break down. Likewise, reusable plastic bottles still have many of the same health risks as disposable bottles. Particularly if you put hot beverages in a plastic bottle. Also Read: Why you should stop reusing single-use plastic water bottles. Why is Plastic Bad? From toxic chemicals and floating garbage patches to health risks and pollution, there are multiple reasons why plastic is bad for the earth. The only sustainable solution is to minimise our plastic waste and stop using plastic water bottles. Instead, you can pick up a durable, reusable water bottle made from a 100% recyclable material. Food grade stainless steel is ideal because it's non-toxic, recyclable, and safe to use with hot drinks. Why not choose your eco-friendly water bottle from the FLASKE Collection today?
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