March 15 is World Consumer Rights Day, and Taiwanese consumer groups are marking the occasion by highlighting the waste produced by take-out coffee cups. The government’s Consumer Protection Committee is teaming up with the non-profit Consumers' Foundation to call for change.
Taiwan loves coffee. Taiwanese drink almost three billion cups of it a year. But Consumers’ Foundation Chairperson Huang I-teng says we need to use fewer disposable cups. He says if current usage continues, the amount of plastic in the ocean will triple by 2040. And by 2050, there’ll be more plastic than fish in the sea. That’ll have knock-on effects on the environment and people’s health.
The theme of this year’s event is putting an end to plastic pollution. A number of convenience stores were in attendance. Organizers hope that the stores can offer more incentives to cut plastic use.
Huang says participating chains will launch a special promotion within three months. He hopes that can be the spark for a longer-term shift in business and consumer attitudes.
Consumer Protection Committee Chairperson Liu Chin-fang says the government is also working with small businesses to reduce the amount of single-use plastics they use.
On the bright side, statistics show that more than 90% of convenience stores already offer discounts for customers who bring their own reusable cups. With a little more effort on both sides, people can get their caffeine fix without Taiwan’s oceans paying the price.