A Simple Habit with a Powerful Impact
LEARN
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will:
- Understand the environmental impact of disposable products
- Learn how small behavior changes can lead to system-wide improvements
- Develop advocacy, communication, and sustainability habits
WHAT TO DO
Encourage students to bring and use their own reusable cups instead of disposable paper or foam cups. Suggested activities include:
- Track personal cup use for one week using a class chart
- Create posters or PSA videos promoting reusable cups
- Design personalized reusable cup art or slogans
- Host a “No Disposable Cup” challenge day at school
WHY IT MATTERS
Disposable cups may seem harmless, but their environmental cost is significant:
- Billions of cups are discarded yearly after just one use
- Most are not recyclable due to plastic linings or foam materials
- They contribute to landfill overflow, ocean pollution, and energy waste
Using a personal reusable cup helps reduce waste, cut emissions, and conserve resources.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT
- Most paper cups are lined with plastic, making them nearly impossible to recycle
- Foam cups (polystyrene) take centuries to break down, releasing microplastics
- A single disposable cup wastes water, trees, fossil fuels, and energy
- Reusable cups offset their environmental footprint within 10–20 uses
- Encourage students to listen to scientific perspectives on plastic pollution
DO
- Design My Cup
- Design Posters
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