Image: East Fork
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The Best Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Coffee Cups & Mugs
The thought of curling up under a blanket next to the fireplace with a hot cup of coffee or tea in the morning feels like comfort. On a recent beach vacation, I made tea in a ceramic mug, stepped outside, and took it with me while I walked on the beach most mornings. For some people, coffee mugs are more than an object; but sentimental mementos or collector items. I have a special handmade coffee mug from Siena from a family shop that has been in business for over 50 years. I hope to pass it on to my daughter one day.
Coffee mugs and teacups are an everyday staple for many of us, yet we rarely think about how it’s made or where it comes from. Like the rest of our household items, it is important to ensure that our choices are sustainable and ethical.
Why Is it Important to Purchase a Sustainable Coffee Mug?
Coffee cups might be a household item you keep for quite some time and use regularly, making them much less wasteful than single-use plastic. However, the impact of the materials used, production process, quality of the product, and human labor should be considered when shopping. Ensure that you feel as good about your choices as that morning cup of coffee makes you feel.
Most coffee mugs are made from ceramic, typically clay that is fired at medium to high temperatures until it hardens. The production of ceramic mugs can use a lot of energy and resources if they are mass-produced and made quickly at high temperatures. Cups from large producers that are even a bit irregular are often rejected and thrown away. The glaze used to coat coffee mugs can be harmful if lots of chemicals are used, or it contains traces of lead. Stoneware and porcelain are 2 types of ceramics usually made at higher temperatures, making them more resource-intensive. Some cups can be made from hardened plastics, which should be avoided, as they will wear out quickly and sit in a landfill for decades if you are finished with them. Look for hand-made mugs in small batches at lower temperatures and finished in a lead-free glaze to ensure they are more sustainable options.
Related Reading: Sustainable Coffee Brands
Our 10 Favorite Sustainable Coffee Cups & Mugs:
1) The Mug
Brand: East Fork
Price: $40
Material: Regionally-Sourced Clay
One day, you’re a person who grabs the first coffee mug in the cabinet, and the next, you’ve got an East Fork Mug; now, you’re forever fishing it out of the dishwasher. It’s simple and beautiful, and then there’s how it feels in your hand, that little bit of heft. East Fork is a B Corp & Climate Neutral Certified dinnerware manufacturer based in Asheville, North Carolina.
They pay all employees living wages, raise money for community partners, and craft beautiful, timeless dinnerware meant for everyday use from regionally-sourced materials. Their Mug has a cult following and now comes in three sizes: Big, Small, and Original (aka The Mug). In addition, all their pots come in 6 core colors, and they release limited-edition seasonal colors throughout the year.
2) Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug
Brand: Verve
Price: $20 for a set of 2, 14 oz mugs
Material: Clay
These richly colored, cozy-looking mugs are handmade in Mexico.
According to Verve, the clay is sourced locally, and production is done with traditional tools and techniques, avoiding the waste of mass production.
The cups are lead-free as well. While these mugs look perfect for cozying up next to a fire with coffee or hot chocolate, the clay materials and internal glaze also work great for keeping iced coffee or tea cold. Due to their handmade nature, these are not dishwasher safe. You can jump on Verve’s site to meet the artisans and partners who make their products, which I love.
3) The Mugs
Brand: Fable
Cost: $75 for a set of 4, 16oz mugs
Material: Clay, recycled when possible
This classy-looking mug set is hand-finished in Portugal, a country well known for its beautiful ceramics. You have 4 neutral colors to choose from, making it easy to fit into your kitchen. The clay is locally sourced in Portugal, and the glaze finish is lead-free. These mugs have over 300 5-star reviews & are dishwasher & microwave safe!
Fable’s sustainable practices include small-scale production, high-quality products, using recycled clay when possible, and shipping in eco-friendly packaging.
4) Monday Porcelain Mug
Brand: Bright Angle
Cost: $55 for a 12oz mug
Material: Porcelain
The elegant Monday mug is carefully crafted to be easy to hold from the shape to slightly grooved edges, to the handle size. It comes in 5 neutral colors. Bright Angle’s materials are all sourced locally from their North Carolina location. Their pieces are molded using software and precise engineering techniques to reduce waste.
Every part of their design process is done in-house, creating high quality and a smaller carbon footprint. Bonus, the Monday mug is dishwasher and microwave safe.
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5) Handmade Ceramic Mug
Brand: Lafayette Avenue Ceramics
Cost: $22.00 for a 16oz mug
Material: Clay
This sturdy-looking, large-sized mug comes in 7 colors, making it easy to match any kitchen décor. The wide and large handle makes it a good choice for those that like to carry their mug around most of the day. The mug is made with raw ceramics at a low temperature to reduce waste, then finished with a lead-free glaze.
Care is easy, as they are dishwasher and microwave safe. Lafayette Avenue is a small women-owned business that hand makes all of its products in Arizona. Plus, EarthHero ships their products in recycled and compostable packaging.
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6) Onyx Espresso Cup + Saucer
Brand: Obakki
Cost: $52 for 3oz cup and Saucer
Material: Black clay
If you want a stylish café-style cup, this is the choice for you. The rich color and large handle instantly make this cup stand out. The Onyx is fair trade and hand-made in Oaxaca, Mexico. The clay is locally sourced from where the artisans create the cups. Products are made in small batches to reduce waste.
The Onyx Cup and Saucer can only be hand washed. Obakki provides transparent information about the pottery artisans that make their products. They have also established a foundation to provide clean water in their partners’ communities.
7) Meow Mug
Brand: Sana Hastakala at Ten Thousand Villages
Cost: $19.99 for 1 mug
Material: Ceramic
This mug is so adorable it is bound to put a smile on your face in the morning, no matter how tired you are. Of course, your kids might steal it for hot chocolate too. Like the other mugs we recommend, this one is handmade by fair trade artisans in Nepal. Sana Hastakala works to preserve the rich artistic skill and traditions of Nepali artisans.
Ten Thousand Villages works with partners who ensure fair trade standards are met and invests in long-term partnerships that set their artisans up for financial stability.
8) Beaded African Mug
Brand: Uncommon Goods
Cost: $30 for 16oz. cup
Material: enamel, beads
For those who love color, Mibema Shanga’s beaded mugs will brighten your morning with each sip. The geometric patterns are made by hand in Kenya with hundreds of tiny beads. Choose either warm or cool colors. Uncommon Goods is an online store home to some of the most unique gifts you can find!
9) Stoneware Mugs
Brand: United by Blue
Cost: $24 8oz mugs
Material: Ceramic stoneware
This hip stoneware mug set comes in 4 great colors. The large handle makes it easy to walk around if you have your morning coffee on the run while getting ready for the day. The glaze used on these stoneware mugs is lead-free and food safe. To maintain their beauty, only handwash these mugs.
Good news though, these are microwave safe if you forget your coffee multiple times a day. United by Blue is B-corp certified, uses highly sustainable materials, and removes thousands of pounds of trash out of the ocean every year.
About the Contributor: Mindy Redburn-Smoak has enjoyed a 20+ year career in corporate learning as a consultant, designer, and manager. She is passionate about sustainable living, family, travel, and dog rescue. She has been on a mission to live more sustainably for several years, and loves the journey of learning and trying new things in this space. She is on another journey pursuing her dream of writing about things she is passionate about and that can make a difference in the world. The best way to connect with Mindy is via email at mredsmoak@gmail.com.
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