Disposable Cups:
An analysis of reusable cups vs disposable cups showed that:
1 gram of a polystyrene cup is responsible for 2.8 g CO2e = 16.8 g per cup = 6.13 kg CO2 per year
1 gram of a paper cup is responsible for 1.275 g CO2e = 19.1 g per cup = 6.97 kg CO2 per year
1 gram of a ceramic cup is responsible for 0.065 g CO2e = 20.9 g per cup = 0.02 kg CO2 per year
Impact of paper cups and polystyrene cups is collectively around 13.1 kg CO2 per year.
Plastic Bottles:
According to environmental consultancy Best Foot Forward, the carbon intensity of plastic is 6.25 kg CO2 per kg.
Assuming a reusable plastic bottle weighs 100 g = 0.1 kg
Amount of CO2 emitted by manufacturing 1 plastic reusable water bottle: 6.25 kg CO2 x 0.1 kg = 0.63 kg CO2
Bottled water is responsible for 0.22 kg CO2 per litre bottle.
Assuming water is bought 3 times a week, using a water bottle could potentially save:
(0.22 kg x 156) - 0.63 kg = 33.7 kg CO2 per year
Plastic Bags:
Carbon saved by not using plastic bags and using a reusable cotton bag instead:
= 23.14 kg CO2 per year.
So average savings per year by using non-disposable items = 23.3 kg CO2 per year.
(Items such as disposable cameras and disposable phones are less common than cups etc, so these have not been factored into the calculations, however avoiding these is likely to represent even greater CO2 savings).
