Finding the Best Zero-Waste Coffee Cups
Most coffee cups have plastic lining, so they can’t be recylced. This means that billions are littered worldwide. When it’s so simple to either drink coffee from a mug, or choose a reusable mug that will last years.
This saves littered mugs from breaking down into microplastics, and falling down storm drains and going into the sea. And also stops wildlife getting their heads stuck inside.
Circular & Co Coffee Cups are sold in two sizes (8oz and 12oz), and all made from waste materials (recycled paper cups, fabric waste, marine waste, some are even made from old trainers and bubble gum!) .
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These cups are leakproof and designed to keep drinks hot or cold for 60 to 90 minutes, they are sold with a 2-year guarantee (but designed to last 10) and have easy one-hand opening.
Avoid caffeine for pregnancy/nursing (NHS says if you do drink it, no more than 1 cup of mild coffee or cola, or 2 cups of weak tea daily). Also avoid caffeine for affected medical conditions (like insomnia!)
Swishing coffee grounds into sinks could clog drains, so use a SinkShield.
We like Sanctuary Coffee (profits help animals!) You can bin coffee grounds and tea leaves in food waste bins (usually broken down by microorganisms in a sealed oxygen-free facility – anaerobic digestion). If you don’t have one, just bin them (acids could harm compost creatures – same for rhubarb/tomato/citrus scraps and allium scraps – onion, garlic, shallots, leeks and chives).
Circular Coffee Cups (made from waste materials)
This cup is made from recycled gum!
Hunu collapsible coffee cups
Hunu is a collapsible coffee cup. Silicone is made from sand and fossil fuels, but it lasts for years, doesn’t leach into drinks, and is easy to recycle.
Silicone is flexible, so don’t squeeze the cup when filled with hot liquids, to avoid scalds. When placing the lid on the cup, hold the rim with one hand, and press lid on with the other. Do not put the lid on without holding the rim, as the cup could collapse.
These coffee cups fold down concertina-style to a small disc, so they are perfect to pop in your bag, pocket or glovebox. The snug leak-resistant lid has a covered drinking hole. This cup is safe for the dishwasher, freezer and microwave, and can also be used for cold drinks.
The lid and plug are made from recycled plastic, and this company are working on a solution to make it easy to recycle, though it still saves on disposable plastic cups. You can also buy a version with an integrated straw.
Cupfee (the world’s first edible coffee cup)
Cupffee is as tasty as a cookie! It’s still resistant to hot temperatures and doesn’t leak, and won’t change the taste of your takeaway cup of tea or coffee.
Made from seven (vegan) ingredients (including oat bran, wheat flour and coconut oil), the small size is good for espresso, the large one for other coffee drinks. The paper label can also be branded for coffee shops.
Huskee (a coffee cup made from coffee husks)
Huskee is a brand of coffee cups, made from repurposed coffee husk and polymer. In beautiful sand and dark brown shade with natural flecks, these cups have the same thermal insulation as paper cups, but use up waste.
Keepcup (short and long personal coffee cups)
Keepcup is a brand of reusable coffee cups, with everything from thermal quick-sips and ones with natural cork bands to keep your hands cool. You can even mix-and-match to design your own. There are even mini-cups for espresso!
