Bamboo Cups – 6 Things you need to know

If you are wondering what bamboo coffee cups are you are not alone. These little inventions are popping up in shops everywhere. They are a great eco friendly choice if you are looking to swap out your throwaway coffee cups and go reusable.  

 

These cups are made from bamboo, cornstarch and resin.  In this article we will explore how they are made, why they are so good for the environment and why they make the perfect addition to an eco friendly life.

 

 

How are bamboo cups made?

These cups are one of the many types of coffee cups that have become available for the eco conscious coffee drinker.  But how do they turn bamboo into a coffee cup?

 

I did some research to answer this intriguing question.  It turns out that bamboo is a great material to make an eco friendly cup from.  Bamboo is a sustainable crop, they can be grown without pesticides and grow incredibly fast.  Bamboo is a plant product therefore it stores carbon and will biodegrade. They can be harvested over and over again because as a stem is cut, the plant will grow new stems to replace it.  

 

So how do they make it into a coffee cup? Well most companies are mixing it with non-GMO cornstarch and a resin.  The lid can be made from the same material or a silicon (like the silicone baking mats). Basically the bamboo fibres are mixed with the cornstarch to make a paste, then a resin is added which makes it hard.  

 

The resin makes these coffee cups super durable. That means if you drop it (which I tend to do) it will probably survive.  Of course it isn’t indestructible however if you treat it well, it will last for years.

 

Are bamboo coffee cups biodegradable?

Bamboo itself is a natural fibre and when returned to the earth will break down.  Research I have found suggests that these bamboo cups will take approximately one year to break down.  That is far better than normal takeaway coffee cups which can take more than 50 years to break down.

 

Most normal takeaway coffee cups are plastic lined so there are suggestions that these microplastics will never actually break down (or certainly not in our lifetime).

 

Can you put bamboo cups in the dishwasher?

The best thing to do is to check the bottom of the cup.  Most of them will be dishwasher safe as the resin keeps the cups strong. I certainly put mine in the dishwasher and it cleans up really nicely.

 

I think, over time if you put it in the dishwasher everyday it might wear out quicker.  I like just to give it a wash when I get home after a day out in the sink. That way it will keep your cup going for as long as possible.

 

Are bamboo cups microwave safe?

My bamboo cup says “Do Not Microwave”.  I certainly think that this is a wise idea for all bamboo cups.  However if you find one that is microwave safe, let me know.

 

 

 The bottom of my bamboo coffee cup says

“Do Not Microwave”

Can I bring my own cup to Starbucks?

I did some research and at the time of writing and this is a big YES. Starbucks are offering a 10 cent discount in the US for bringing your own cup. So over a 1 year period if you get a coffee each day that is $36.50 you will save.  That is plenty to cover the purchase of a reusable cup in the first place.

 

I think the most important thing to remember is the amount of trash we can avoid going to landfill by making this one simple change.  Reusable coffee cups are being thrown out by the millions. If we all take steps we can help to slow this waste.

 

How a bamboo cup can save you money

This brings me to my next point.  If you want to save money buying a reusable cup can help you to do this.  The Starbucks example is a good one where you save 10 cents per cup.

 

In some Aussie cafes, the ones that I visit frequently, I actually get a 50 cent discount when I bring my reusable cup.  I am saving $3.50 per week, $15 per month or $182 per year based on 1 cup per day.

 

Within 1 month you can pay for your bamboo coffee cup (or close to) and then from there it is money back in your pocket.  If you are buying coffees each day anyway, or even a few times per month, it is certainly worth the change.

 

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