Ceramic Vs. Styrofoam Cups

Ceramic Cups

• You can find a ceramic cup with almost any design, image or slogan you might want on it. The ceramic cup can be any color and can come in a variety of shapes that, typically, feature a handle. When purchasing ceramic cups, it is important to make sure the cup is made with lead-free materials to avoid health hazards. Ceramic cups with cracks or extreme crazing (small surface cracks) should be discarded because any lead that may be present can seep into your beverage. Ceramic cups can contain nearly any kind of liquid, including hot beverages and alcohol. Ceramic cups can be microwaved or placed in the refrigerator.

Styrofoam Cups

• Styrofoam is a brand name of polystyrene, which is made from petroleum products. Polystyrene is a type of plastic and is very lightweight. Styrofoam cups have insulating properties and are good for hot or cold liquids. Styrofoam cups are inexpensive and disposable, and sold in packages of multiple cups. Styrofoam is a derivative of styrene, which is a human carcinogen. There are many concerns with the potential health hazards associated with the use of Styrofoam. The Earth Resource Foundation (earthresource.org) maintains that some of the potential health risks may involve neurological conditions, blood complications, chromosomal abnormalities and possible birth defects. For the safest use of Styrofoam cups, avoid microwaving your contents in the polystyrene cup.

Environmental Factors

• Ceramic cups cannot be recycled unless they are repurposed in craft projects. Some recycling programs will accept Styrofoam for use in other consumer goods such as packaging peanuts. Overall, making a ceramic cup requires more energy, and washing the cup after each use requires the continuous consumption of resources such as water and energy. "The Guardian" newspaper (guardian.co.uk) suggests that a ceramic cup must be used at least 1,000 times to be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than one single Styrofoam cup. The newspaper recommends as the most environmentally sound solution that, if you cannot prolong the life of your ceramic cup, you use a paper cup, which is cheaper to make, requires less energy to create and is recyclable.

Durability

• Ceramic cups are heavier and typically have a wider base to avoid spills and tip-overs. Styrofoam cups are so lightweight that a light blow to the side can send the cup toppling over, spilling the contents. Reheating your beverage in a microwave is possible with a ceramic cup, but a Styrofoam cup will melt. Ceramic cups aren't indestructible, however. Dropping a ceramic cup on most floor surfaces will result in a broken handle, a chipped surface or a complete break. Dropping a Styrofoam cup will result in a spill, but the cup will suffer little from the impact. "The Guardian" newspaper suggests that the typical ceramic mug is used about 50 times in the workplace before it meets its demise, but archeologists have documented ceramics that have survived for thousands of years.