We live in a society where replacement instead of repair is the norm, to our planet’s detriment.
Accepting that the useful life of everyday items can be as short as 30 minutes for a water bottle, through to a year for a TV is reckless in the face of alternatives. No product category is exempt – construction, food, fashion, electronics, white goods, and even coffee. In 2024, our waste obsession generated an average of 511 kg of waste per person in the EU.
Whilst governments play a large role in defining policy to deal with waste issues, consumers can also take simple steps to minimise their waste. Most of us would be forgiven for starting our workday with a takeaway coffee, but what is unforgivable is that only half of us use a reusable cup. Our daily coffee habits add up to a staggering 16 billion disposable cup problem per annum, according to Zero Waste Europe. We can all be a lot more vigilant with our daily coffee habit by investing in a reusable cup, enjoying our brew in our local coffee shop, or participating in a returnable coffee cup scheme.
Reforming our Wasteful Ways
