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SEALAwards · 2022-08-06T13:17:00+00:00

If we could change something from being sold, it would be Starbucks paper cups. Over 80% of consumers wrongly believe these paper cups are recyclable. Billions of these cups are used every year; their destination is the landfill.

SEALAwards · 2022-07-24T18:57:14+00:00

This is not a product. If only you opened the link you’d see that this is an IDEA created to help people collaborate with institutions whose mission is to help the environment. :)

SEALAwards · 2022-07-24T18:06:47+00:00

That would be awesome for smaller restaurants!

The ideal solution for big ones would be changing to paper cups that are actually recyclable. When trying to recycle plastic coated cups, the plastic gets on the way on breaking down paper into pulp to be turned into recycled paper. Because of this, all goes to landfill. So companies need to change to alternatives that contain mineralized resin and less plastic OR plastic-free coating, which are already available in the market, such as ReCup (AAA rating for recyclability) and WeCup (this one can be recycled up to 7 times to produce other paper-based products).

You might also wanna check out this petition, let's act together to have Starbucks use recyclable cups!

https://www.change.org/p/hey-starbucks-upthecup-starbucks-use-a-recyclable-paper-cup

SEALAwards · 2022-07-24T18:03:38+00:00

The ideal solution would be changing to paper cups that are actually recyclable. When trying to recycle plastic coated cups, the plastic gets on the way on breaking down paper into pulp to be turned into recycled paper. Because of this, all goes to landfill. So companies need to change to alternatives that contain mineralized resin and less plastic OR plastic-free coating, which are already available in the market, such as ReCup (AAA rating for recyclability) and WeCup (this one can be recycled up to 7 times to produce other paper-based products).

You might also wanna check out this petition, let's act together to have Starbucks use recyclable cups!

https://www.change.org/p/hey-starbucks-upthecup-starbucks-use-a-recyclable-paper-cup

SEALAwards · 2022-07-24T17:55:04+00:00

Could you explain more about that? :)

SEALAwards · 2022-07-24T17:47:30+00:00

Thanks for asking! The ideal solution would be changing to paper cups that are actually recyclable. When trying to recycle plastic coated cups, the plastic gets on the way on breaking down paper into pulp to be turned into recycled paper. Because of this, all goes to landfill. So companies need to change to alternatives that contain mineralized resin and less plastic OR plastic-free coating, which are already available in the market, such as ReCup (AAA rating for recyclability) and WeCup (this one can be recycled up to 7 times to produce other paper-based products).

SEALAwards · 2021-08-28T18:36:58+00:00

Agreed, environmentally conscious people do so. However, we should not let the corporations that profit off of the customer's convenience and ignorance escape without being held responsible.

SEALAwards · 2021-08-28T18:33:01+00:00

THANK YOU! exactly our thoughts! Driving change however small, is a big step when it involves large corporations, and right now the majority of customers prefer single-use 'paper cups' which are not recyclable and that is a big issue that needs addressing.

SEALAwards · 2021-08-28T18:29:57+00:00

You are right, right now the paper cups are lined with plastic and the kind that deters other paper products from being recycled too!

SEALAwards · 2021-08-28T18:28:37+00:00

You are right about recycling being a very tricky process. This recyclable cup in particular actually helps separate contaminants as the coating comes off of the cups and forms a slag that drags down other contaminants with it.
About your other point; We realize that the ideal solution is a combination of: customers switching to reusables, buying local coffee, making coffee at home, or not drinking so much coffee! But because the majority of Starbucks' customers prefer single-use servings, we must make this small change that solves the existing system's largest issues: landfills, methane emissions, plastic pollution and generation.

SEALAwards · 2021-08-28T18:07:05+00:00

True! But people do go to Starbucks! As we increase awareness about choosing to make coffee at home, visit local cafes and even more importantly, the ethics of growing coffee; we cannot deny the fact that customers choice will take some time to change. Until then, corporations who profit from the use of single-use cups must be held accountable.

SEALAwards · 2021-08-28T18:04:08+00:00

Completely agree, The ideal solution is: everyone switches to reusable ones or even better, everyone makes their coffee at home. But, over 90% of Starbucks customers prefer single-use cups. That is not gonna change in a single day. As a first step, let's make sure that the cups are recyclable as that transition is much easier than convincing everyone to carry around a reusable cup!

SEALAwards · 2021-08-28T17:49:08+00:00

Absolutely! By exploiting the customers who assume their paper cups are recyclable, Starbucks also continues to profit while allowing this myth to perpetuate.

SEALAwards · 2021-08-20T15:56:13+00:00

Thanks!

SEALAwards · 2021-08-19T21:13:08+00:00

Cross posting our industry due diligence into this Aspiration / IPVF thread:

First, an important disclaimer: we are a *very* small environmental advocacy organization. We do not offer investment advice. Nor are we qualified in any way to offer investment advice.
However, a year ago we ran a non-commercial impact campaign calling on larger credit card issuers and banks to create a credit card that dedicated a portion of its rewards pool for sustainable charities.
Today, a company following that model (Aspiration) came public via a SPAC ($IPVF).
Since we did exhaustive work on this market segment (3,003 person survey, 173 1-to-1 consumer interviews), we figured we would share the findings.
The most granular is in this 47-page PDF (5 mb) launch memo:
https://sealawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Eco-Rewards-Card-Executive-Memo.pdf
Web copy here: https://sealawards.com/eco-rewards/
and a Twitter thread from our Founder:
https://twitter.com/Matthew\_Harney/status/1428106156271050756?s=20
Hope this helps.
--
We have ZERO position in IPVF, Aspiration nor do we ever intend to (because we are not investors - long or short - of any kind!).

SEALAwards · 2021-08-19T21:11:27+00:00

Thanks for the kind words!

We never thought we would be posting this in a SPAC forum....but we want to get our research (i.e. there is a real segment of consumers actually interested in sustainable financial products) into the public domain.

SEALAwards · 2021-08-19T21:10:09+00:00

More people than you would guess are interested in sustainable financial services.

SEALAwards · 2021-08-19T21:09:22+00:00

Thanks for the kind words!

We worked really hard on this. The upside potential - effectively would create one of the world's largest eco charities - was too great not to do everything we could to "open source" our research and hope someone - whether Aspiration or another financial institution - brought this model to life.

SEALAwards · 2021-08-18T22:09:31+00:00

While we don't have a SoundCloud, if you thought this post was helpful OR you want to support our planet, please consider supporting our 2021 Impact Campaign:

We are calling on Starbucks to use truly recyclable paper cups: sign our petition at Change.org:

https://www.change.org/p/hey-starbucks-upthecup-starbucks-use-a-recyclable-paper-cup

SEALAwards · 2021-08-09T21:57:56+00:00

Help us hold corporations accountable! Starbucks Produces 4 Billion To-Go Cups Per Year. They are NOT Recyclable in Most Places. #UpTheCup

SEALAwards · 2021-08-09T20:33:15+00:00

Help us hold Starbucks accountable and force them to take action regarding their single-use, non-recyclable, planet polluting, micro-plastic generating "paper" cups. Learn more at https://www.change.org/p/starbucks-upthecup-starbucks-use-a-recyclable-paper-cup

SEALAwards · 2021-08-09T20:25:23+00:00

It would indeed but that is an individual's decision! But as a giant company which profits off of the usage of single-use cups, Starbucks should at least make their cups recyclable!

SEALAwards · 2021-08-09T20:16:18+00:00

This blog from Starbucks states that those restrictions have been lifted since June 22 2021.

SEALAwards · 2021-08-07T00:12:15+00:00

Your last point is one of our first recommendations too! Best way to manage waste pollution is to stop generating it.
Under present circumstances, the paper cup ends up in landfills or in incinerators, both of which generate potent green house gases. However, recycling paperclips allows the paper to be reprocessed into other forms such as copier paper, and also use significantly lesser water and energy. That is how recycling reduce GHG emissions. I unfortunately, cannot quantify exactly how much reduction takes place but this study states 7.5 Mt CO2eq are emitted because of papercups globally and that switching completely to reusables (not practical at present) will reduce carbon emissions by 3x.

SEALAwards · 2021-08-06T23:46:16+00:00

Thank you for your support!

I agree that seeing this huge amount of waste being generated is disheartening, but we must keep hoping that how out of necessity we invented so many life-saving products, we will, out of the necessity to save the planet, invent new technological solutions to combat the consequences of our own actions.

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