Words by Sarah Hillman
Art by Rachelle Lee

So, let’s catch up on a few things. The Earth is heating up to the point of no return, the ice is melting, the polar bears have nowhere to live, we need to save the turtles and to make things worse, it’s all our fault and our politicians don’t care. Woah. 

Just before you crawl into the foetal position, there is plenty for us to do in our everyday routine. You might, as most Melburnians do, start your day with a cup of coffee on the way to work. Then you might get another at lunch. Depending on how sleep deprived you’re feeling, you could use anywhere from five to 15 disposable cups in a week. 

Most of us are beginning to understand the wastefulness of single-use cups. Walk around uni in the morning and you will see hands clutching colourful cups everywhere. In fact, you might just get the look of shame if you order a takeaway coffee without your own reusable cup. Whether you’re already part of the KeepCup clan or yet to ditch the paper, there are plenty of options when it comes to choosing a trusty new mug. I mean, you gotta enjoy your soy decaf hazelnut chai latte in style, right?

KEEPCUP:

We all know it, we all love it. KeepCup is the OG reusable cup that has become a household name. You can’t go wrong with their many colour, size and material options. KeepCup also sells their individual parts to elongate the cup’s lifespan. If you’re not afraid of being a little mainstream, they won’t let you down.  

FRANK GREEN:

The slick, cool guy on the block. If you’re one of those people that has to take a snap of their morning coffee, look no further. Frank Green has heaps of customisable bold and pastel shades, as well as the option of monogramming your cup. And while on the more pricey side, some are powered with payWave so you can pay with your cup! Be ready to dazzle your barista.

POTTERY FOR THE PLANET:

If you’ve ever wanted to sip a hot coffee while admiring art, now’s your chance. These handmade, one-of-a-kind ceramic cups are gorgeous and feel like you’re drinking from a mug at home. An added bonus? They don’t use any plastic aside from the silicone lid. But if you’ve got butterfingers, these may not be the ones for you. 

rCUP:

There’s always a teacher’s pet somewhere… rCup can’t help but show off, it’s a reusable cup that is made of recycled single-use cups! It also has a nice 360-degree drinking mechanism so you don’t have to sip from a tiny opening. They’ve really thought of everything.  

T2 TRAVEL MUG:

If you’re looking for something to suit your leafy beverages, T2 make travel mugs with infusers specifically for your tea. Their stainless steel bottles can keep your drink at 60°C for up to six hours! No need to feel left out of the reusable game—we accept tea drinkers too.