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Abstract

The Mug Share program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is currently in the early stages of a pilot project, and this paper aims to help guide the growth of the initiative through researching scientific literature to assess the life cycle analysis of several mug options, providing examples of similar projects in other cities, and to propose a solution to the issue of mug security. A survey was conducted to receive feedback from program participants in order to gauge the current status of the pilot project, and to guide the research conducted. A Triple Bottom Line (TBL) analysis compares disposable and reusable cups as it is important to determine if reusable cups are worth using, followed by a more in depth look at the recommended choice of reusable, stainless steel mugs. Several case studies of similar programs are then conducted to provide insight on how the UBC Mug Share pilot project may proceed and ultimately an electronic tracking system is suggested to tackle the issues of mug security. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”