To get course credit this Summer, I am writing a paper about the use of styrofoam cups vs. ceramic mugs in the workplace. Originally, the idea was to look at how much energy it takes to make and use a styrofoam cup versus a ceramic mug – especially once washing costs over the lifetime of the mug have been factored in. After doing some research, however, I found that at least two similar studies have already been done – first in 1994 and again in 2007. Shocking as it is to some environmentalists, both studies found that styrofoam cups use less energy over their 1-use lifetime than ceramic cups do over their 500 – 3000 use lifetime.
Rather than do this study a third time, I’m planning on changing direction a little bit. I believe that the challenge for a facility manager is to balance the scientific research about styrofoam cups with his or her customer’s increasingly negative perception of these cups as bad for the environment. The third factor that needs to be included in this is cost, and how much it makes sense for an organization to spend on items (cups) that are not essential to its core function.
I am going to explore some ideas about steps that can be taken – perhaps rather than buying mugs new, letting employees lead a drive for re-usable cups in an effort to replace the styrofoam. This could counter-balance some of the energy costs for the cups (since they will not be purchased new) and some of the actual cost for them, since employees could donate cups to this “cause.” I may even try to conduct some small surveys to see whether people would contribute to a drive to bring in mugs if asked — and also to get their opinions on styrofoam in general.
Overall, I am excited about this paper. The research so far has been very interesting, and I think that it could point to some interesting practical applications.
3 Comments
at 8:27 pm - 12th May 2008 Permalink
Hey Joseph,
Your paper sounds very intriguing– I’ll be interested to hear of your discoveries with the production costs of styrofoam being less than the mug’s lifetime. I don’t know if you could fit in the idea of using compostable materials in your paper, and how involved costs for such relate to the mug/styrofoam question.
My workplace tries using, whenever possible, renewable materials such as utensils made of potatoes and corn , the “ecocontainer” and clear cups made of sugar.. I really don’t know in the overall scheme of things if this is better for the environment than bringing in a mug from home.
Here’s a site that provides some of the afforementioned products:
http://www.natureworksllc.com/
at 8:10 am - 17th May 2008 Permalink
Hi Joseph,
I recall another study contrasting paper to styrofoam sometime in 1992(?). It’s off subject. More to your interest. Have the transport charges for the cups been factpred ntp any fhtese studies. The mug travels to the office only once while a cup has to be delivered each time it is used and transported, usually in a plastic bag, to the landfill each time it is done. Furhter, the landfill issue is often overlooked with the foam cup.
at 8:55 am - 17th May 2008 Permalink
Hocking wrote a lot about styrofoam and energy consumption back in the early 90s. Maybe he’s the one who wrote the article you’re thinking of – paper cups actually were a part of the study I’m referencing, they’re just not my main focus.
I’ll look into the transportation energy costs. They may have been factored into the Dutch study, but I’m not sure.
Post a Comment