SINGLE USE

Modern Consumers Now Bring their Own Cups

Each day incredible numbers of cups are used just one time and then thrown away. While this is convenient, it’s also extremely wasteful and burdensome to our environment. An increasing number of consumers in Taiwan and around the world are now switching to more ec0-friendly and sustainable alternatives, encouraged by governments and aided by producers offering an ever-widening variety of reusable cups and accessories.

Echoing international environmental protection initiatives, the Taipei City Government banned beverage shops in the city from providing single-use plastic cups starting last December. More than 2,000 of these highly popular shops, including enterprises selling fruit juice and bubble tea, were affected. While the shops still provide single-use cups made of paper, many consumers now bring their own reusable cups to make at least a tiny contribution to reducing waste and at the same time save a little bit of money (you usually enjoy NT$5 off each time you buy a drink when presenting your own cup). Are you considering switching to a reusable cup and accessories? Following is a short overview of related options currently trending in Taiwan.

Reusable Cups

When choosing an eco-friendly cup you want to look at the material it is made of and its size, shape, color, and functionality. Most cups are made of stainless steel, glass, ceramics, or plastic, each material having advantages and disadvantages. Steel is probably the ideal cup material (durable, easy to clean, heat retention, many shapes and sizes available). If opting for a cup made of another material you have to live with certain disadvantages such as easy breakability (glass), less heat resistance (plastic), and/or steeper prices (ceramics).

When deciding upon the size of your cup you want to consider the usual measurements for beverages sold in chain operations, like convenience stores and bubble tea counters. A small cup ( 小杯 ) is about 250ml in most cases but can be as much as 430ml (for example at McDonald’s), a medium cup ( 中杯 ) is 360ml~500ml, and a large cup is 600~900ml ( 大杯 ). If not sure whether your cup is large enough, ask the beverage shop staff before ordering. Reusable cups are generally priced NT$500~$1,500, depending on material, size, and functionality.