{"id":492,"date":"2019-12-19T15:40:06","date_gmt":"2019-12-19T15:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dr-mark-dixon-blog.onyx-sites.io\/?p=492"},"modified":"2020-01-24T10:17:25","modified_gmt":"2020-01-24T10:17:25","slug":"compostable-disposable-cups-helping-or-making-it-worse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmarkdixon.co.uk\/?p=492","title":{"rendered":"Compostable disposable cups. Helping or making it worse?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Naturally \u201ccompostable\u201d materials have enjoyed a rather smug status for some time.\u00a0 We all know that single use disposables are bad news for the environment, both practically and, increasingly, ethically too.\u00a0 But name something \u201ccompostable\u201d and our halo shines a little brighter, and we feel more comfortable with the idea of throwing away that coffee cup after use.<\/p>\n

But how far are we really digging into the issue?\u00a0 Do we really know if the environmental data stacks up?\u00a0 I\u2019m worried we\u2019re getting it all wrong and that moving in the direction of using compostable single use products versus reusing what we already have is simply no better – in fact, I\u2019m concerned it\u2019s potentially making the problem worse.<\/p>\n

If we want to make progress in changing attitudes at a deep subconscious level, we should be feeling uncomfortable about any <\/strong>single use disposable item, compostable or not.<\/p>\n

At Oxygen House, we pride ourselves on being leaders in environmental sustainability and in educating our people.\u00a0 We provide organic food<\/a>, EV charging points, reduce our energy usage with solar panels and air source heat pumps and encourage all our staff to think constantly about environmental welfare.\u00a0 But even here, I fear we are being drawn into the fallacy of using compostable containers over the long-held wisdom of hard wearing, reusable ceramics.<\/p>\n

So I\u2019ve done some research. One way to judge is to compare the energy usage (equivalent CO2) from production, transportation and disposal. I\u2019ve focused on comparing ceramic vs disposable, compostable paper cups or bowls.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not an easy comparison – if it was, I suspect our subconscious attitudes would be a lot clearer. Steffen Andersen has done some research<\/a> and concludes that\u00a0 a ceramic cup needs to be used 38 times to be as efficient as a paper cup. Our head of catering at Oxygen House estimates that we get an average of 500 uses before a breakage.<\/p>\n

So, if we only focus on energy then, it\u2019s a no-brainer.\u00a0 We should be feeling very uncomfortable about using any single use item – even if they are compostable.<\/p>\n

However, this is only part of the equation.\u00a0 Waste and pollution from ceramics is negligible.\u00a0 They\u2019re made from clay extracted directly from the ground and when they break can be recycled directly into building material.<\/p>\n

The waste and pollution associated with disposables, however, is a different story – even if we only focus on compostable products.\u00a0 The problem arises when you consider that most food or drink containers need to have a thin water-resistant lining to avoid collapse in warmth and moisture.\u00a0 Theoretically this is still compostable but often the nature of the materials means the breaking down process can take tens, or even hundreds of years.\u00a0 What\u2019s more, the resulting compost has dubious benefit to the soil so although eventually, compostables break down, they don\u2019t add to the natural ecosystem, and in the process create wastelands of landfill which simply become another source of pollution.<\/p>\n

So I\u2019m thinking we should strive for an environment where we proudly wield our own mugs, and where using an office mug (let alone a disposable) should become rather embarrassing as it suggests you\u2019re not rinsing and reusing after all.<\/p>\n

Over time, mug numbers at Oxygen House dwindle through wear and tear and although we top up supplies now and again, I think perhaps even company ceramics aren\u2019t the whole answer.\u00a0 We need your help – bring your own mug to work and bear it with pride!\u00a0 Consider reusing your own mug without dishwashing, and always ask whether you need a disposable container.<\/p>\n

After all, the impact of such a change on subconscious thinking can be dramatic – and possibly more powerful than the energy and pollution directly saved.\u00a0 Making a conscious decision to do things differently may drive you to think about other things differently too, challenging a whole range of personal habits in terms of acting and thinking.\u00a0 It might even become a deciding factor in your choice of candidate to vote for – and that can certainly drive huge change for the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Naturally \u201ccompostable\u201d materials have enjoyed a rather smug status for some time.\u00a0 We all know that single use disposables are bad news for the environment, both practically and, increasingly, ethically too.\u00a0 But name something \u201ccompostable\u201d and our halo shines a little brighter, and we feel more comfortable with the idea of throwing away that coffee […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":497,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCompostable disposable cups. 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