365 Ways to Save the Planet

Day 210 – We have all used our share of disposable cups. Maybe it was at a baseball game, music festival, or backyard barbecue. Easily hundreds of cups tossed in the trash. Now multiply that by the billions of people that live on the planet and that is an insane amount of disposable cups sitting in landfills or floating in our oceans and waterways.

Finding a solution to the small events, like the backyard barbecue, isn’t too difficult. Just three days ago, Day 207, I wrote about Preserve. A company that sells plastic reusable cups that are dishwasher safe. However, what about those huge events and gatherings? That’s where Globelet comes in.

Globelet can be found in New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. Though it appears they are more active in New Zealand and Australia.

Here’s how their reusable system works.

1. Their reusables are manufactured in New Zealand. They now have a range of cups that are made from 100% recycled bottle caps. Their goal is to switch all of their products to recycled materials.
2. Globelet reusables get delivered to the venue, where they will be used.
3. At the venue, the attendees purchase their first beverage in one of Globelet’s reusable cups and pay a deposit for it.
4. Attendees enjoy their drink in one of Globelets various reusables; cup, stemless vino, bottled water, or coffee cup.
5. Attendees can return their reusable product to the bars or assigned areas to receive a partial refund. They can also choose to keep it and reuse it.
6. Globelet reusables get collected post event and head to the Better Future Factory to be washed and recounted.
7. Reusables go through washing and drying machines designed to dry plastic and reduce water consumption.
8. Cleaned products are stored or returned to the venue. Any damaged products get recycled.

Globelet has kept over 21 million disposable products from going to landfill and oceans for the last 8 years around New Zealand and Australia. This is a system that can easily work worldwide. However, to be successful, we need to change our behavior and realize that reusables need to replace disposables.

Tomorrow, from cups to takeout containers, continuing the talk on reusables.