Are reusable containers actually better for the environment?
Plastic single-use takeout containers are a problem. According to a Nature study, take-out consumer items made up 50 - 88% of litter items found in the ocean. And global annual plastic waste generation is projected to triple between 2019 and 2060. So, if trends continue, more and more single-use containers will be used once – and then end up in a landfill or in the environment.
Naturally, this raises the question: is there a more sustainable alternative for single-use plastics? And are these alternatives backed by research – not just greenwashing? The answer is yes, there is a more sustainable alternative – with a caveat. Studies have found that reusable cups are a better alternative to single-use, but this depends on specific conditions. This blog post will break down those conditions and point out what it means to be a truly sustainable takeout container.
Number of uses
One factor which significantly affects a reusable cup’s impact is the number of times it is used. Is the cup being used one time? A few times? Hundreds of times? According to a study of many life cycle analyses, reusable cups do have a lower environmental impact than single-use cups, but the cup needs to be reused a certain number of times in order to reach that impact.
It seems intuitive that creating a durable cup made out of a material such as glass or metal uses more energy, water, and resources than a flimsy plastic or paper cup. However, once one stainless steel cup is used 20 - 115 times, that cup has a better environmental impact than single-use plastic cups. So, after 20 - 115 uses, the stainless steel cup becomes the more sustainable takeout option.
USEFULL’s strategy
Our stainless steel containers are made to be durable and last to be used over and over again. More specifically, we design our system so we deploy the right amount of inventory to our partners to ensure that our system is super efficient.
Behavior factors
That 20 - 115 uses seems like a pretty big range. Why will some stainless steel cups break-even after 115 uses, and others after only 20?
One reason is washing. As you can imagine, cups can be washed in a variety of conditions, each of which have their own environmental impacts. The impact of washing will be less if a more efficient dishwasher is used, if the dishwasher is loaded properly, and if less water is used. Emissions also depend on the water temperature and the source of electricity.
Another reason? Consumer behavior. While reusable cups do have the potential to offer a lower impact than single-use cups, this can only occur if the cup is actually reused. So, in order for a reusables system to actually be sustainable, those cups and containers need to stay in circulation.
USEFULL’s strategy
Our fair and friendly stick system makes returning containers on time the norm – and ensures accountability, leading to an over 99% return rate. This ensures that the containers are used again and again. Paired with our rental period (e.g. 2-7 days), inventory comes back into circulation quickly, making the USEFULL solution super efficient.
End of life treatment
Finally, the way that cups and containers are treated after they are retired also affects its environmental impact. For example, while most bioplastics are compostable under the right conditions, there are often no local facilities which can correctly compost these materials – and thus, bioplastic usually ends up in the landfill.
USEFULL’s strategy
We make sure that our cups and containers are recycled at the end of their life.
The benefits of reuse
Ok – assume that the reusable container has crossed the break-even point. Is it really that much better than the equivalent single-use containers?
The answer is a clear yes. A broad range of studies have found that reusables are better than single-use alternatives in many categories. For example, the greenhouse gas emissions of 500 paper cups dwarfs those of a stainless steel cup used 500 times. And the main energy and water impacts of reusables come from washing – but these impacts are greatly reduced with the highly efficient dishwasher systems often found in restaurants and college campuses.
Bottom line
Reuse is a good idea – and as long as containers are reused, washed efficiently, and recycled correctly, reusable cups and containers have the potential to save significant amounts of waste, energy, and water compared to single-use alternatives. It is essential to create a system in which reusable containers actually do surpass single-use containers in their environmental impacts. Otherwise, the solution is just greenwashing.
USEFULL carefully developed our system to ensure that our containers are used thousands of times and are recycled properly at the end of their life cycle. Our partners have experienced real waste, water, and emissions savings – not to mention cost savings. After all, we are proud that we’re in the business of real environmental solutions.
Interested in learning more about USEFULL? Drop us your email here!