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Ssushi
Joined: 18 Nov 2004
Posts: 6670
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:04 am Post subject: Ceramic & Plastic Cups |
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In our office, some people use plasic discposable cups and two of us use a ceramic cup.
The ceramic cups are washed by hand with no detergent and require X amount of energy to create. Not all ceramic cups make it to their end user (damaged in transport).
Plastic cups are used once only. People will drink 3-6 cups of coffee per day. They take x amount of energy to create (but are burned and energy reclaimed for heating) and all make it to their final end user.
Which cup type leaves the least environmental footprint? |
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Kindred
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 9876
Location: The Free Lands of Animaliana
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:15 am Post subject: Re: Ceramic & Plastic Cups |
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Ssushi wrote: In our office, some people use plasic discposable cups and two of us use a ceramic cup.
The ceramic cups are washed by hand with no detergent and require X amount of energy to create. Not all ceramic cups make it to their end user (damaged in transport).
Plastic cups are used once only. People will drink 3-6 cups of coffee per day. They take x amount of energy to create (but are burned and energy reclaimed for heating) and all make it to their final end user.
Which cup type leaves the least environmental footprint?
This is a trick question, right?
I use a plastic, re-usable coffee mug. I win. |
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Kindred
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 9876
Location: The Free Lands of Animaliana
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:20 am Post subject: |
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| At any rate, over the life-time of your average ceramic mug (say between 2,000 and 3,000 uses) I'm quite certain the ceramic mug wins out. |
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Ssushi
Joined: 18 Nov 2004
Posts: 6670
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:38 am Post subject: |
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Kindred wrote: At any rate, over the life-time of your average ceramic mug (say between 2,000 and 3,000 uses) I'm quite certain the ceramic mug wins out.
You're certain? Hmmmmmmmmm
Even considering losses and the difference in energy to create? I was actually asking if anyone had definitive data, not opinion... |
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perdidochas
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 15424
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:13 am Post subject: |
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Kindred wrote: At any rate, over the life-time of your average ceramic mug (say between 2,000 and 3,000 uses) I'm quite certain the ceramic mug wins out.
It depends on how much in terms of resources are used to clean it. |
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FarPastGone
Joined: 03 Mar 2005
Posts: 540
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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| I am certain the college student who uses the average plastic cup for beer bong uses it sufficiently. It will be washed and re-used for several nights to weeks, they may sit on the table in the rain for days just to be filled with life again, as well as lay in the yard for weeks to be salvaged for re-use in times of great need.. |
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perdidochas
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 15424
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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perdidochas wrote: Kindred wrote: At any rate, over the life-time of your average ceramic mug (say between 2,000 and 3,000 uses) I'm quite certain the ceramic mug wins out.
It depends on how much in terms of resources are used to clean it.
Also, coffee just tastes better out of ceramic, and there are less chances of ingesting off-tasting chemicals. |
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John Galt
Joined: 04 May 2004
Posts: 21226
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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And you can get sweet cermaic mugs.
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Ssushi
Joined: 18 Nov 2004
Posts: 6670
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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| This seems to be exaxtly the debate in the office. No one knows if its better or worse.... |
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perdidochas
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 15424
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Ssushi wrote: This seems to be exaxtly the debate in the office. No one knows if its better or worse....
I think ceramic mugs have the edge, unless you have OCD people who continuously wash their coffee mugs. I rarely wash mine at work. I figure hot coffee pretty much sterilizes it :twisted: |
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Kindred
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 9876
Location: The Free Lands of Animaliana
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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I win
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2004/11/ecotip_coffee_c.php |
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John Galt
Joined: 04 May 2004
Posts: 21226
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Most interesting.
I have many many mugs though. If you have just one, I can see it working out for cermaics but I have about 30.And I've only just begun... I also have several hundred beer glasses. |
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Josh
Joined: 01 Feb 2004
Posts: 6161
Location: Across America
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:25 am Post subject: |
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Well, if a ceramic jug breaks you can glue back together, grind it up and use it as a mortar, make art out of it, break it up and throw it into a river, or use it as inert media in gardening.
If a plastic cup breaks, melts, you can watch all the hydrocarbons and CO2 float up into the atmosphere. Maybe you could use it for something. |
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perdidochas
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 15424
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:42 am Post subject: |
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Kindred wrote: I win
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2004/11/ecotip_coffee_c.php
3000 uses is several years. I'm not sure how many people have coffee mugs for that long in regular usage. I know in the past ten years I've broken several of my favorite mugs :( |
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ChuckBerry
Joined: 01 Aug 2007
Posts: 2259
Location: Lafayette, LA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:17 am Post subject: |
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| Using disposable items is more sanitary. How many of you still carry a pocket handkerchief? |
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