- Did you know,
Coffee is essential for the survival of every 1 in 4 Australians.
The love affair for coffee is STRONG in Australia!
More than one in four (27%) proclaim they cannot survive the day without it, and 9 in 10 (88%) stating they genuinely enjoy it.
Aussies are definitely putting their money where their mouth is, with more than 4 out of 5 Aussies (84%) spending money on coffee outside of the home on a weekly basis.
We wouldn’t feel distressed by these numbers if we are just looking at coffee alone, however when you take into account that every takeaway coffee cup, which is lined with plastic (so the heat and liquid doesn't burn/leak through), is only being used for a hot second until being discarded, disregarded without any afterthought.
You’ve probably seen the stats, in Australia alone over 1 billion coffee cups get dumped into landfills each year.
Our daily, auto-piloted convenience has made the overall take away coffee experience feel a little dirty now, don't you think?
We wanted to talk you through a necessary perception shift, in honour of world environment day by offering you 3 simple, feel-good coffee solutions that benefits
- the planet
- your health, and
- your pocket!
As World Environment Day approaches, it serves as a powerful reminder of the immediate action needed by each and every individual to make more of an effort to prioritise sustainable choices - to protect what is left of our natural resources and the health of the planet we currently inhabit.
Since 1974 World Environment Day has been celebrated globally, its purpose is to encourage awareness and action for the protection of our environment.
Going on 49 years since the first World Environment Day, we find ourselves in the midst of 2023… living with a surplus of things and a never ending supply of trash being dumped into landfills.
Empowerment comes after fully understanding your role, and the part you play as an individual.
Understand that no matter how small or insignificant you may feel on our global scale, your choices, and most importantly daily habits are ultimately responsible for the future of our planet as a whole.
We are not suggesting anyone should stop doing the things they love, instead we offer another option: do what you love, better and feel great about it! (More dopamine and feel-good chemicals? Where do we sign up!?)
Consider how-to swap out daily disposables into daily reusables.
Start with your daily coffee, swap to a reusable keep cup. Once you get into that habit, think about your other daily disposables, what could you swap next?
Understand you are in control of your choices, they matter, significantly.
We have become accustomed to crave convenience and affordability so much that we have completely compromised consideration.
We already have an abundance of solutions that can ensure a greener, cleaner future for many generations to come with the everyday choice we make today!
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it”
- Robert Swan
Every disposable day-to-day habit you take part in has a significant impact on the environment. When considering these daily habits are frequent, and world wide - we can understand how this rampant “waste” problem is scaling.
Are you aware that your habits contribute to the ever-growing waste crisis?
Questions to ask yourself:- How often do you purchase take-away coffee daily? weekly?
- How often do you purchase plastic water bottles from the supermarket?
- Do you regularly use make-up wipes/ cotton pads in your beauty routine?
Many of our regular habits, including but not limited to the above, have a cumulative impact on our environment and natural resources…
The good news is we already have the sustainable substitutions that allow your routines to continue undisturbed, whilst drastically cut down on wasteful waste!
Do you feel empowered to make a difference?
Solution 1 out of 3...
Coffee Cups
In coffee shops and cafes, disposable coffee cups are a common sight, yet they have significant impact on the environment, when it comes to the waste crisis.
Due to their mixed-material composition, it is estimated that Australians throw out 2.7 million disposable coffee cups every single day….
That is over 1 billion coffee cups are dumped in landfills every year!
Making the switch to reusable coffee cups a.k.a "keep cups" is a quick and simple alternative. Once this habit becomes normal, you will enjoy your morning cup (or cups) guilt-free knowing your choice to re-use is saving:
- more land from becoming landfill, for coffee cups!
- the ocean from more waste pollution &
- natural & man made resources.
Let's take you through the advantages of implementing this into your everyday routine!
- Most importantly, it significantly reduces waste by eliminating the need for single-use cups. Each time you use your reusable mug, you prevent another coffee cup from entering the landfill.
- You are saving money in the long run. A LOT OF MONEY! Purchasing a reusable mug can result in long-term financial savings. When you bring your own cup, many coffee shops will give you a discount, allowing you to buy your coffee and pay less. Over time, the savings from avoiding disposable cups can add up significantly.
- Reusable mugs are designed to be durable, spill-proof, and portable. All ready for your convenience. To accommodate differing tastes, they are available in a range of sizes and designs. After making the transition, you'll discover that it's easier to bring your reusable mug with you everywhere you go, whether it's to your coffee shop, at work, or on your daily commute.
By swapping disposable cups for reusable mugs, you actively support sustainable practices and act as a positive influence to all around you!
You join a wider movement that strives to lessen waste and encourage eco-friendly purchasing decisions. Your activities serve as an example of leadership to others and help create a more sustainable future for everyone.
Solution 2 out of 3...
Plastic Water Bottles
Plastic bottles, especially those made from single-use plastics, contribute to the #WasteCrisis by attributing to landfill & environmental pollution.
In Australia, plastic water bottles - wether recycled or not end up in landfills or as litter in natural habitats, rivers, and oceans.
Although many countries are recycling plastic water bottles, we do not yet have the technology in Australia to make this happen and many water companies (*cough* *cough* mount franklin) are still using virgin plastic to make water bottles.
Plastic pollution harms wildlife, marine life, and ecosystems, and can take hundreds of years to decompose.
As we know plastic is not able to decompose, instead it breaks down into tiny micro plastic particles a.k.a microplastics.
We are only beginning to understand the detriment microplastic is having on our ecosystems, environment, food chain & us.
Read our blog post on microplastics here
Petroleum and natural gas are the main fossil fuels used to make plastic bottles. The extraction and processing of these non-renewable resources contribute to environmental degradation and can lead to habitat destruction, air pollution, and water contamination.
We continue to increase the demand on these limited resources by using plastic bottles.
Are you intrigued?
Make the switch now, here are some of the advantages you could be taking part in:
- Pollution from plastic water bottles is serious. They frequently wind up in landfills or, worse, in our oceans, harming ecosystems and marine life. By using a reusable water bottle, you can greatly reduce your plastic waste and help protect the environment.
- Significant volumes of water and fossil fuels are needed for the manufacture of plastic water bottles. By opting for a reusable bottle, you conserve these precious resources and reduce the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and transporting single-use bottles.
- A cost-effective purchase is a reusable water bottle. No more spending money on plastic water bottles.
- Drinking out of single use plastic is harmful to your health! Chemicals are known to leech out of the bottle into your water, which you are ingesting - yum!
There only BENEFITS when it comes to purchasing a good reusable water bottle.
Did you know you are ingesting harmful microplastics when you opt for the plastic bottle?
You can avoid exposure to these toxins and encourage healthier drinking by using a reusable bottle made of materials like glass or stainless steel.
Solution 3 out of 3...
Luxury Reusable Face Washer - Ultra SOFT & machine washable!
Single-use face washers such as makeup wipes and cotton pads contribute to the growing problem of landfills and pollution.
Typically, non-biodegradable materials like synthetic fibres or conventional cotton are used to make them. They are thrown away after being used, intensifying the growing waste crisis.
Makeup wipes & single-use face washers are known to cause:
- premature aging
- pigmentation
- breakouts, clogged pores
- irritation, allergies & inflammation
- environmental damage
Reusable face washers made of eco-friendly materials, including bamboo or organic cotton, minimise environmental damage and encourage better clean skincare routines.
Reusable alternatives are typically kinder to the skin, kinder to the environment, and more effective at cleaning the skin without causing irritation.
Take a look at the spectacular ASGFR reusable face washers
$10 each or 3 for $25
Each one is made up of microfibres that will get deep into your pores!
Reusable face washers are an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle choice. It promotes the preservation of environmental resources, the reduction of pollution, and the comfort and health of your skin.
Isn't that amazing?
We can all work together to create a more environmentally friendly future and safeguard both ourselves and the environment and implementing these easy sustainable swaps into our daily routine.
It's a simple yet powerful step toward reducing waste and embracing a more eco-conscious lifestyle.
Let's make a commitment to abandon the disposable habits and embrace reusable alternatives on this World Environment Day.
By doing this, we can support efforts being made throughout the world to cut back on waste and protect the environment for future generations.
So let's act right now.
Replace single-use face washes with eco-friendly alternatives, replace plastic water bottles with reusable ones, and go from throwaway coffee cups to reusable mugs.
Embrace these sustainable habits not just on World Environment Day, but every day, as we strive to make a positive difference for our planet.