"To go" culture
"To go" culture
There is much talk about the use of coffee-to-go cups in recent times.There is much talk about the use of coffee-to-go cups in recent times.
Eight things you should know about paper cups.
Did you know …
- ... that even in Imperial China, where paper was invented in the second century BC, people were already drinking from paper cups with all manner of shapes, colours and designs? (1)
- ... that your cup has only ever been touched by your lips? You may hunt for lipstick residue and other contamination in vain. Paper cups are produced under the highest of hygienic standards, ensuring you are able to safely enjoy your coffee. (2)
- ... that the paper industry has consistently reduced its water consumption? Around 100 ml of water are used to produce a paper cup. Would you be able to wash a reusable cup with so little water? (3)
The Phenomenon "to go" and the littering problemThe Phenomenon "to go" and the littering problem
Three mega-trends - which are strongly interconnected - determine and influence the "to go” topic.
Globalisation requires mobility and new forms of work that lead to new and different life, consumer and work habits. Work places and times, changing jobs and life partnerships, residences and destinations, everything is in motion and completely flexible. That requires a complex, constantly changing supply system with foods and finished dishes and drinks to take to the workplace, home, on the trip and also to the stationary distribution of food in major organisational units such as companies, schools and universities, hospitals, etc.
That is not payable without diverse, functional, hygienic and cost-effective packaging. The packaging offering must be adapted as well for the ever-changing needs.
Out of sight, out of mindOut of sight, out of mind
Causes for lack of environmental awareness and sub-optimal problem solving
Many people get rid of their used "to go” packaging by simply discarding them (English: Littering). This has to do with thoughtlessness, stupidity, poor education and other character deficits, but also small garbage containers and a lack of sanctioning of this misconduct. That people pollute the city, the streets and front yards, even though they live and work there, has something to do with a lack of culture. Only education and controls help here. In Japan, you can see that another way is possible. There is no garbage on the streets, although there are often no single waste containers. The Japanese do not contaminate their island or the sea, which represents their biggest source of food.
The cups which are collected in our streets, are very popular in the waste incineration because they have a high calorific value, so that the municipalities - which have invested in an MVA - are often not interested in material recycling. Material recycling is also currently failing because there is too little capacity available and the process is difficult due to the plastic coating and the floating up of the cups in the pulper.
Cups which cannot be collected clean and according to type, are also better used thermally according to many experts. If these were then still made of renewable raw materials or agricultural waste, that is all the better. Proposals of always having "to go" cups as reusable cups and refilling them on site are rejected by hygiene offices for good reason. This opens the door to bacteria and viruses.
Sustainability for the next generationSustainability for the next generation
The younger generation in particular calls for the preservation of their livelihoods and attaches great importance to environmental protection. But the younger generation loves the spontaneity, looseness and nonchalance of "food-on-the-go" and food intake increasingly takes place through the accelerated pace of life on the go.
Littering prevents used service packaging from being collected, sorted and placed in a regulated recycling. This is still a major problem which in turn the Deutsche Umwelthilfe [German Environmental Relief] and the „daraus-Kapital-schlagen-wollende Politiker“ have again called the plan into action to initiate a deposit or even ban discussion. The reasoning here: Too much trash and no recycling!
The fact is that we have had to declare war on the littering problem. Therefore, many NGOs like Keep Scotland Tidy, Keep Sweden Tidy, Nederland Schoenen and the Grüne Punkt have joined forces together as an association against littering under the auspices of the EU.
However, we must also require the younger generation to join this model, so that we have clean streets, pedestrian zones etc. in the future again.
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