But it is all has to be considered relative to the other options. I generally think paper is better the other disposable options. But I will certainly review any new research
Of course, the best for the environment and quality of the beverage is reusable ceramic cups.
Not true everywhere. Where I live now in EU, at my fav hipster coffeeshop they definitely let you bring your own to-go reusable glassware (basically jars with screw-on caps) where they pour your finished coffee drink, and I think in some hipster Berlin coffee shops as well where they push for the environmentalist friendly mentality.
I've noticed in some cases America(the US) tends to be way more hypochondriac than necessary, for some reason. Probably because how easy you can get sued.
That’s funny, I had the opposite impression after my various EU business trips over the years. Our colleagues were shocked that we could just touch the fruit and vegetables at a store without gloves. We were surprised to go to stores there and see fruits individually wrapped in unnecessary packaging.
Certain things are wrapped (primarily cucumbers and similar), but that is just for more perishable things shipped in from the other side of the world and is for shelf life, not hygenics.
Depends where. I've noticed certain Scandinavian countries like Finland take public hygiene to the next level, but in central Europe like France, Germany, Austria, Czechia, etc. it's more socially accepted to casually share germs and not shower too often.
It’s not just a United States problem. I’ve worked with several startups in the EU and other countries where founders were jealous of our business freedoms in the United States. The very idea that you can start a business, have it fail, and not be financially ruined for decades or the rest of your life in the United States is a foreign concept to many.
We have it good in the US.
I'm not exactly complaining. I'm still trying to start a business :P. It's just the purity of "making a better product" is gone. You have to do it within the law and compete with incumbent that have influenced that law in their favor after having maybe broken it at first.
I'n not completely cynical. Just disenchanted!
Pedantic edit: "we have it better in the U.S" means it's worse elsewhere, not that the U.S. is "good". Just saying. I do agree that the possibility of even starting business is very good in the U.S.
aside: I hang out at local spots a lot. On a regular cadence the owners mention they're being sued for ADA (Am. disabilities Act) violations. The law is good. But the thing is the law firms spray the notices to spook people into settling. It's just the cost of doing business. Even and especially the cognitive-drain cost.
Also not to get too deep into the weeds on environmentalism but you all know the line reduce/reuse/recycle? the two first Rs it seems like we as a society have decided to just overlook. I've been using the same thermos for 10 years and I guarantee that in terms of footprint my thermos is doing better than literally any disposable solution you can come up with. People are wasting SO MUCH material, time, and money trying to sustain disposability when a real solution is on the shelf at every retailer right now ready to go.
People like to point at 'emissions' because they look sexy on a spreadsheet, but there is more to the world than just that.
Now same questions for a 'single' use plastic bag.
There is this scene in countless movies, where a waitress comes up to a customer, and refills their cup from a coffee pot. No germs transferred from customers' cup to coffee pot.
How would modern take be any different? Because waitress has to pick up customers' cup? Then let customer place it under whatever machine it needs placing. And pick up when done.
This just businesses being lazy, regulatory red tape, or fear of litigation. NOT a real-world problem.
Yes there's situations where "bring your own cup" simply isn't practical. But where it is, businesses (and government!) should embrace that.
And as for the increased energy required to create and clean these stainless steel and glass containers, the goal should be that this soon becomes a "who cares" problem as we fully transition to renewable energy and storage. Admittedly, "soon" very much seems to be a material possibility, but a political impossibility. And of course there is always opportunity cost when deciding how to divvy out grid capacity, so I am smoothing over some of the complexities of the issue here, but I don't think unreasonably so.
(I drink black coffee so I don't know if that applies to the specialty drinks; those are made by someone else.)
Starbucks does this en masse if I recall correctly as they encourage people to bring their own cups, even offering a small discount
> drive-thru
So which one?