Alarming extent of the disposable waste problem in Germany
In these days of fast-paced lifestyles and always being on the go, disposable beverage cups and meal boxes have become a ubiquitous part of our society. They offer convenience and a quick solution to hunger or thirst on the go. Unfortunately, this convenience comes at a high price that we can no longer ignore. According to recent reports, an incredible 5.8 billion beverage cups and 4.3 billion food boxes are thrown away each year after a single use in Germany alone. These gigantic mountains of waste have a devastating impact on our environment, our health and our future.
Let's start with the terrible reality of the waste caused by disposable beverage cups and food boxes. These items are often made of plastic or Styrofoam, materials that are known to degrade very slowly or not at all. Imagine how many tons of plastic waste are generated each year in Germany alone, just because we choose the convenience of buying our drinks and meals in disposable packaging. This waste often ends up in landfills or is incinerated, further wasting valuable resources and releasing toxic chemicals into the environment.
The effects of this mass waste of single-use packaging are devastating. Plastic waste is one of the biggest problems for our oceans and the wildlife that lives in them. Millions of tons of plastic enter our waters every year, threatening the delicate balance of the marine ecosystem. Marine animals such as turtles, fish, and birds often mistake plastic waste for food and die as a result of consuming or becoming entangled in plastic debris. The sight of beaches littered with plastic is unfortunately no longer a rarity.
In addition to the environmental impact, the use of disposable packaging also has significant health risks for humans. Some of the materials used contain harmful chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and styrene, which can leach into food when they come into contact with hot liquids or food. These chemicals are suspected of causing hormonal disruption, cancer and other serious health problems. So by using disposable packaging, we are putting ourselves at potential risk to our own health.
It is high time that we change our mindset and look for sustainable alternatives.
One solution to this problem, in terms of food packaging, could be our self-heating -and-cooling lunchbox.
We are working on it now and will launch it in early fall.
