The Vancouver Indy Coffee Scene

BCIT SA

Two weeks ago, while I was standing in line for my morning fix, I saw a sign that read, 20 percent off your drink if you bring your own mug

I thought it was a cool idea, as most shops have done the 10 cents off your own cup for a couple of years now, but 20 percent over the course of a five day week would buy your next Mondays coffee.

The sign was posted outside The JJ Beans coffee kiosk in the Great Hall at BCIT’s Willingdon campus. It is owned and operated by the students association.

Cost per use per cup (click to see detail)

“It is good for the environment, and good for the students, it gives them a lower price.” said the manager of the cafe.

This little five minute conversation peeked my interest about what is the environment impact of disposable coffee cups and I found a wealth of information on the net.
In a study done by University of Victoria professor, Martin B. Hocking, on the energy use per unit (MJ) of each cup.

I was very surprised at first glance to see that the polystyrene foam was so cheap in energy to produce and how just washing the reusable cup uses more energy then the production of one polystyrene cup.

In graphic number two it would take more then two and a half years just to reach the amount MJ used in the creation of each cup. It is easy to see why take-out places use these items as they are mass produced, and given freely without cause for disposal.

So what is the use?

Energy per cup (click to see detail)

Well fear not, students of Rowan University in New Jersey, USA wrote a study asking the faculty to change from polystyrene cup to a reusable mug. Their study still supports that foam is cheaper to produce per MJ unit and you will be using more energy to produce and then clean the other mug, but after usage the environmental costs and economic impacts are hard to dispute and easy to gauge.

In just two semesters the university would have recouped the extra cost of the reusable cups and after five semesters the college would have recouped an entire semester of foam cups cost. Over 12 semester their could be a total savings of just under $65,000 US, now that is real money we talking about people.

Cost of Cups Comparison by Rowan University (click to see detail)

Who else does this?

The Winnipeg Folk Festival has been using this method for years, they encourage people to bring mugs and sell festival reusable travel mugs at cost. The festival takes this one step further by charging a $2 dollar deposit for the plate your food is served on.  To get this back you must return the plate where it gets washed and reused.  If you want to be a food vendor on site you must be part of this solution. It is a system that works well for the festival for years and reduces the impact on the provincial park the festival is held at each year.

Winnipeg Folk Festival Plate Recycling

• Prado Café gives you 20 cents off every drink with it’s own cup
• Caffe Artigiano will charge you 50 cents if you want another paper cup.
• Blenz and most other stores will give you just 10 cents off your own mug. It isn’t much of an incentive but you get tons of karma point for the environment impact.
• Bump and Grind and various other shops sell a reusable coffee sleeve.

So do you want to be like Al Gore? Want to do your part to save the environment?

Use your own cup!

Amendment  : Things have changed at BCIT and the Kiosk is no longer but connected with the Convenience store.