Reusable Plastic Cups: Are They Really a Good Solution?
Tour de France, festivals, concerts, markets… there is no shortage of examples showing how what is commonly known as the “Ecocup” has become part of the reusable cup landscape. While many people see it as the most environmentally friendly alternative to single-use cups, this solution still raises a number of questions about its true ecological impact. How are these cups manufactured? How are they washed? And how are they recycled?
Are reusable plastic cups really a genuine alternative to single-use cups?
A problematic manufacturing process
When it comes to manufacturing, reusable cups are made from the same material as single-use plastic cups: polypropylene.
However, to make them stronger and more durable, their production requires around six times more raw material than a conventional single-use plastic cup. The main raw material involved is petroleum, which has a significant environmental impact, particularly because of the greenhouse gas emissions generated during extraction.
Using more raw material therefore inevitably increases the initial environmental footprint of a reusable cup.
It is heavier, stronger and more durable than a disposable cup that is used once and then, hopefully, thrown into a bin. However, its manufacturing process is still relatively resource-intensive.
Producing a reusable plastic cup also requires around six times more water than producing a single-use cup. While water consumption itself is not necessarily the main issue, eutrophication, meaning the pollution and nutrient enrichment of water, can become problematic.
This is one reason why manufacturing a reusable cup can initially have a greater environmental impact than producing a standard disposable plastic cup.
In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, manufacturing a reusable plastic cup generates around seven times more emissions. Once again, this is mainly because the product is heavier and contains more material.
Transport and use
To assess the environmental footprint of an object such as a reusable cup, it is important to consider its entire life cycle. This includes transportation between the place where it is manufactured and the place where it is used, which is often an event such as a festival, concert or other public gathering.
Because a reusable cup weighs around six times more than a single-use cup, its environmental impact during transportation is automatically higher than that of a disposable plastic cup weighing only around 6.5 g.
In addition, unlike a disposable plastic cup that is thrown away after use, a reusable cup has to be washed.
At first glance, washing a cup may appear much more environmentally friendly than throwing it away. However, cleaning can itself have a significant environmental impact.
A study conducted by Mountain Riders shows that washing reusable cups, particularly during festivals and large events, can consume large quantities of water, often heated water, as well as energy and potentially polluting cleaning products.
Depending on the products used and the washing method — dishwasher, glass washer, sponge, etc. — cleaning can therefore represent a significant part of the reusable cup’s overall environmental footprint.
A mixed environmental assessment
The main issue with reusable plastic cups is that their manufacturing process has a relatively high initial environmental impact. They require more raw materials, more water and generate more greenhouse gas emissions during production.
However, this needs to be put into perspective because a reusable cup is designed to be used many times.
While a disposable plastic cup is only useful for a single use, a reusable cup can be used again and again. With every reuse, the initial environmental impact of its production is spread over a greater number of uses.
In other words, the more times the cup is reused, the lower its environmental impact per use becomes.
As a result, after around seven uses, a reusable plastic cup is generally considered to have a lower environmental footprint than a disposable plastic cup.
At events such as festivals, where reusable cups are returned, washed and put back into circulation, this model can therefore offer genuine environmental benefits.
On the other hand, if a reusable cup is only used once before being left at the back of a cupboard, its environmental footprint may ultimately be much greater than that of a disposable cup.
