Any one lucky enough to see the photos of Vladimir Putin bare-chested in camo will have some idea just how butch the Russians can be. A fact reinforced by the number of camping shops in Moscow selling rugged man’s stuff. And they don’t get much more rugged than this tin cup, double wall construction and complete with sturdy clip to attach it to your rucksack. So I got one.
I take a reusable cup travelling with me because I am highly dependant on take out. I don’t want to use plastic cups and so-called paper cups are plastic lined so I take my own cup and use that instead.
I have to say, as reusable cups go, this one is as good as Vlad on horseback – and you can’t get better than that!
But reusable cups are not just for travellers.
A report conducted jointly by the Alliance for Environmental Innovation and Starbucks found that 1.9 billion cups were used by Starbucks in 2000.[5] In 2006, Starbucks reported that this figure had grown to 2.3 billion cups for use at their stores.[6]
And just recently the Guardian reported that “A conservative estimate puts the number of paper cups handed out by coffee shops in the UK at 3bn, more than 8m a day with only one in 400 is being recycled.
You can read more about disposable cups here
Good enough reasons to take your own reusable cup to the coffee shop.
Buy
I don’t know if you can buy such a good cup in the effeminate, decadent West but you will find something in outdoor shops that might do. Most do a good range of camping cups.
More Options
I have not used these myself so I cannot say how well they perform or what the onward packaging is like. You will have to check with the suppliers. Any one who has tried them, can review them or can recommend some other great product please do leave a comment. Together we can make changes.
Some of the products featured may come plastic packed or even be made of plastic. They are included because if a product reduces the consumption of plastic disposables or packaging waste then, we feel, there is a strong justification for using it. You read more about using plastic to cut plastic here.
Reusable silicon cups with lid
They wont break in your bag and will save the planet – result. You can buy them from Onya – the people who do the mesh produce bags.
Heres some blurb from them
Did you know you can take your own reusable coffee cup to most coffee shops? They will fill it instead of the usual disposable one and some of them even offer you a discount! 
Features:
• Foodgrade silicone cup/lid
• Eco friendly and reusable
• Dishwasher safe
• Withstands up to 200ºC heat
• Cool to the touch
• byocup and lids are not available separately.
The byocup silicone story
We are conscious of the fact that manufacturing reusable cups also has an environmental impact, so we have put a process in place to recycle the cup responsibly.
At the end of its life as a byocup, please return it to us and we will forward it to a silicone recycler in India who will turn it into charity bracelets or key rings.
Ceramic Cup
If you don’t like the sound of that or prefer something ceramic try the I am not a paper cup – a pottery cup with reusable silicon lid.
I know it looks like a polystyrene version but thats the joke. It’s also double wall construction so it will keep your drink hot and your hands cool. Shame about the plastic packaging! You can buy them here.
Catalogue
Being committed to local shopping, I prefer to buy that way whenever possible. I would encourage you to do the same. One of the joys of living plastic free is mooching round the local shops seeing what you can source. Coffee Evolution were doing take away ceramic cups for instance.
If you can’t buy local, please do check the links above. They look direct to the suppliers. Do consider buying from them and support their online businesses.
If you can’t do that then I have put together and Amazon catalogue. Yes I know…
If you buy a product via this link we do get an affiliation fee for this. That’s not why we do it.