The appeal of KeepCup is not just its beautiful design. Let me tell you a little more about the materials used in the product.
About Glass
The glass is made of tempered soda lime glass, which is shock-resistant and durable. It can be washed in the dishwasher and is heat-resistant, so it is strong enough to withstand fire, but there is still a chance that it may break.
Tempered glass can be recycled, but it has to be heated to a higher temperature than regular glass bottles. Yes, glass can be recycled, but there's so much of it that it's often crushed and sent to landfills.
The only reason glass tumblers end up being disposed of instead of recycled is because the material breaks, so we use tempered glass for extra durability to prevent this.
KeepCup independently tests its glass annually to ensure it meets strength standards and is lead and cadmium free.
About plastic
Why plastic?
KeepCups are made from plastic because they are light, durable, and ideal for on-the-go coffee. They require less energy to manufacture, and the machines used have tighter tolerances, resulting in less waste in factories. They are lightweight and stackable, which reduces the environmental impact of shipping them.
Wouldn't it be better for the environment to use less plastic? Plastic is only a symptom, not the cause of the problem.
The problem is quantity. Even for items that are only used for a short time, like takeaway cups, a lot of plastic is used and thrown away.
Single-use packaging accounts for 40% of global plastic production annually.
KeepCup has been looking into alternative materials to plastic, such as bamboo and PLA, but has not yet explored the adhesive properties, lifespan, or how to handle them after use.
Melamine resin is added to bamboo fiber to make it water repellent for use in food containers, and in the end, melamine resin makes up 20-60% of the entire product. Although many manufacturers recommend that the product contain melamine, it is said that the product cannot be recycled or composted.
Similarly, products made with alternative fibres, such as cups made from coffee grounds, often contain polypropylene.
Even when it comes to "eco materials," the reality is complicated as to whether they are truly good for the environment.
Disposable cups that look like paper but aren't
And then there's the polyethylene lining that lines most disposable cups: any container that can hold liquid for long periods of time, even if it looks like paper, is lined with plastic.
This plastic lining is what makes disposable cups so difficult to recycle: if you use a disposable cup to buy takeaway coffee for a year, it will generate 1.2kg of waste.
It takes 20 disposable cups to make one plastic KeepCup (surprise!). By choosing the right material for your intended use, you can ensure that the right amount of material is used over time.
KeepCup independently tests all components annually to ensure they comply with global food safety standards and are BPA/BPS free.
Plastic is recyclable, but the recycling system is in a state of crisis around the world, which is one of the biggest challenges for brands.
Continued use is the key
If you use KeepCup more than 24 times, it will be effective in reducing the use of disposable cups.
It's a small action, but it reduces waste and, more importantly, makes takeaway coffee taste even better, so it has become an indispensable companion when we go out. Because it is not a cheap cup, I want to continue using it carefully.
At cafes and convenience stores that allow takeout, you can get nice discounts if you bring your own cup.
Since its inception, KeepCup has become one of the most recognized eco-friendly cup brands in Australia, Europe and the United States, used by millions of coffee lovers and saving over 8 billion disposable cups per year.
