The Stanley Cup Craze

  We’ve all seen them, those giant cups that people carry around. Also known as peoples emotional support water bottles. Although the Stanley Cup is marketed as a green solution. How green really are they? Why are micro trends like this an issue for the planet? Let’s get into it 👇🏽

👋🏽 What’s the Problem?  

Well the Stanley cup craze, particularly the trend of collecting them is an issue due to its impact on overconsumption and waste. In 2023 alone, Stanley Cup made $750 million and sold 10 million cups. That’s A LOT of the earth’s resources and emissions being produced for a cup that we don’t really need. Cheap products like the Stanley Cup and its competitors come at the expense of environmental degradation, perpetuating a cycle of resource exploitation and pollution. Their production often involves underpaid labour and unsafe working conditions, exacerbating social inequalities. By prioritising affordability over sustainability and ethical practices, cheap products contribute to both environmental crises and social injustices.

🤷🏼‍♀️ But They’re Better Than Plastic?

Well, this is controversial but they aren’t the way the majority of people are using them. The demand for these trendy cups has led to a surge in production, which requires significant resources. Producing stainless steel bottles like the Stanley Cup demands seven times as much fossil fuel, releases 14 times more greenhouse gases, and requires the extraction of hundreds of times more metal resources than their disposable friends. This increased production not only strains natural resources but also contributes to environmental degradation.

The lifecycle of these cups is let’s say problematic. While they are marketed as a green alternative to single-use plastic bottles, the reality is that the environmental break-even point—where the cup becomes more eco-friendly than single-use options—requires it to be used many times (at least for a year!). The trend-driven nature of the craze means that many cups are purchased but not used to their full potential, leading to biodiversity loss, land use issues, pollution, and consequences for human health. 

👀 How Does Social Media Play a Role?

Everywhere we look on social media we are being marketed something to buy. We’re literally inundated every single day until we get fomo and give in. The social media-fueled craze has created a collector’s market for Stanley Cups, where people get a heap of versions of the cup, often neglecting older, functional ones. This behaviour results in overproduction and eventually, waste, as many of these cups will likely end up in landfills once the trend fades, similar to their single-use siblings. While people are claiming they’re getting into Stanley Cups for their reusable qualities, the phenomenon highlights how consumer trends can inadvertently contribute to the very environmental problems they aim to solve.

🌸 What’s the Solution?    

Well it’s simple really, keep that old water bottle you’ve had at home for ages and keep using it as much as you can instead of single-use plastic. If you absolutely have to get a Stanley Cup, think about why you’re buying it is it because you’ve seen it all over Instagram? Well, then you don’t need it. If you go ahead and buy one anyways, get at least a years worth of use out of it and don’t buy more than one!

Sustainable Living Tips

Since we’re talking about overconsumption, let me give you some tips on how to thrift effectively so you can get exactly what you’re looking for without costing the earth!

🦄 Know What You’re Looking For: Know what you need before you go, whether it's clothing, furniture, or household items. This helps you stay focused and avoid unnecessary purchases. I love to keep an ongoing pin board of my fave outfits or items I love the style of. That way I know exactly what I’m looking for.

🫦 Create a Saved Search: This changed the game for me! On Facebook Marketplace or Depop create a saved search once you’ve landed on exactly what you want. This could look like ‘pink hoodie’ or ‘midi skirt’. Then the search engine will sift through everything for you just like a usual online store.

🧚🏼 Keep an Open Mind: Be willing to explore different sections and sizes. Thrift stores often have unique finds in unexpected places, so don't limit yourself to just one area. Remember you can always take pieces to a seamstress and they can tailor them to fit your body.

ThredUp

Omg I’m obsessed with this thrift store. There is this amazing function that allows you to look up pieces in a photo, so you can pull cute outfits off of Pinterest or IG, plug them into the site and then it will pull any thrifted items to match. So cool!!

🎊 The Navajo Nation is tackling energy disparities by implementing solar projects to power homes that never had electricity.

🌈 The Global Plastics Treaty is advancing, aiming to finalise a global treaty to address plastic pollution by the end of the year.

🐍 In Indonesia, religious leaders are integrating Islamic teachings with environmental conservation, leading a movement to protect the environment. This unique approach is helping to promote sustainable practices and awareness within communities.