The Idea

My idea for starting this blog and the "Here's Your Mug" project is pretty simple: I just wanted to make minor adjustments to my life in order to lessen my carbon footprint. I consider myself a pretty careful consumer, but make no mistake, I am indeed a consumer. I grocery shop and sometimes forget my reusable bags. I order take out and even though I pass on the extra napkins and utensils, my food comes in a container. We all want to do better, but it all gets so big and overwhelming that we end up feeling like it's all in vain. I decided that if I wanted to be better, I should start small.

Last year I bought a reusable water container and made a commitment to carry it with me and lay off the plastic water bottles. Then, I did the same with coffee. I drink coffee every single day and that usually meant picking one up on the way to work. So I bought myself a travel coffee mug and decided that if I didnt remember to bring my mug with me, I didnt get coffee that day. Simple. My dependence on coffee is severe enough that carrying a travel mug around is a small price to pay.

Then the idea just grew from there. How about I buy a mug for my girlfriend and she stops using paper cups? What if I buy more mugs, and give them out to my friends? What if I don't stop there, and give the mugs to strangers, encouraging them to use the mug, even just a couple times a week? Would people actually use them? And more importantly, would that make a difference? So the thought became a bit of an obsession and then turned into action.

It's pretty straight forward: I'll spend $50  per month, or more if I'm rich that month, on reusable mugs. I'll give them out to friends, co-workers, strangers standing in line for coffee. And we'll see what happens.