GREEN LIVING: The plastic in your ‘paper’ cup

GIVEN that I talk about making sustainable swaps nearly every day of the week with people, there’s little that surprises me anymore about how reliant we are on single-use plastics, and how hard it can change our habits.
However, I recently saw a video shared on Instagram (posted by @uselessplastic) that showed a typical single-use takeaway coffee cup pierced with a thin stick and submerged in a household cleaner for one hour. When the cup was lifted out of the solution by the stick, the cardboard exterior of the cup fell away to clearly reveal the plastic lining that makes these cups watertight. Many people don’t ever think about this virtually invisible lining, thinking of them as ‘paper’ cups.
For us, the problem is the interaction between that thin plastic lining and the very hot liquids poured into it, whereby chemicals and synthetic materials added to create the thin film interact in unknown ways and leach into our coffees and teas. Multiple studies have been conducted that show microparticles and chemicals are present in the drinks, but given that all cups are manufactured differently, it’s even difficult for researchers to pin down what exactly we’re being exposed to and the effects that may have on our bodies.
For consumers, it’s a hard choice, as our lifestyles have changed so much over the past 20 years that our diets and eating habits are often radically different from what even our parents ate when they were younger. We are presented with endless choices of foods, some quite exotic to any of our older relatives, but nearly all of these are in plastic bags, trays or wraps.
I’m loathe to try to scare people into action, but at the same time I think it’s important for us to recognise that there are healthier options. For hot drinks, sitting down and drinking out of a proper mug is the most straightforward switch, and means that we can actually take a proper relaxed and enjoyable tea break.
For people who are always on the go, investing in a durable reusable cup is a given, to limit daily exposure to microplastics. If you want a hot drink to stay hot for a commute or a hike, then insulated stainless-steel flasks or cups are the best choice – and also the most durable (mine hits the ground on a regular basis due to clumsiness, but it only dents the outside slightly, and the inside is fine). If you are not clumsy, a glass cup does not absorb odours or tastes.
For food, a ceramic plate is also the best option generally, so sit down and take your time with your meal as well. If you regularly bring food for lunch or get takeaway, again a stainless-steel food pot or lunch box is durable, easy to clean and will also keep foods like soups hot for several hours. For sandwiches, beeswax-coated cotton wraps are a good option, or even a small reusable cotton bag that can be washed regularly.

McKinley Neal is the owner of PAX Whole Foods & Eco Goods, a minimal-waste shop in Westport offering bulk organic foods, reusable goods, household products, eco-friendly personal-care items and gifts.