Ceramic Coffee Mug: Environmental Footprint
Coffee mug is one of the most habitual items most of us use and find it difficult to imagine not having it. Morning coffee, afternoon tea, hot hocolate, cocoa, and seasonal gluhwein would not be the same without this
attribute. It is a must-have item in the office. It makes some coffee-shops stand out among others. Most people own at least a few mugs and would be happy to receive one more as a gift. Mugs have been around since human culture has evolved to consuming beverages. The first mugs were made of wood. Ceramic ones appear after the invention of pottery during the Mesolithic period (Violatti 2014). Through Ancient History until modern
days ceramics remain one of the most commonly used materials for producing mugs and other dinnerware. Since ancient times material composition of this item has not changed much. The basic components are clay, natural mineral available on every continent, silica, also a mineral found in nature, and minor additions of various other substances for conditioning the material properties. Most of ceramic items are glazed using mixes of silica and metal compounds which produce coloring.
The constant high demand for mugs is supported by mass-production. In high-volume production, pottery wheel has been replaced with molding, allowing for the automated simultaneous manufacturing of numerous pieces.
After molding, items are being fired in kilns to let them harden. While there were many advances in the production method, the key material has remained the same. Ceramic mugs are still made of clay and silica. Both are natural minerals, not synthetic substances. The main ingredient, clay, is found in all parts of the world, but the leading exporters are China and the US (WorldAtlas 2016). Being a natural resource clay is not harmful
itself, unless inhaled by someone when working with the dry mixture. It does not bear any hazards for final consumers if mixed and fired correctly.
One potentially harmful component is the glaze, used for slick and shiny look. Some of the glazes contain radioactive metals, such as uranium or lead. These components can cause health problems both for the consumers who purchase and workers who produce the mugs (EHS 2016). However, most of the developed countries have banned the use of these metals in ceramic products and it is unlikely to find items containing these components on sale in the United States or other developed countries.
In mug-production, much resources is used for firing the molded items at a very high temperature. This step allows for ceramic to smelt together and harden, ensuring the final product is durable. The firing takes place
in a kiln, which is a large industrial oven capable of sustaining temperatures up to 2,732 °F. Naturally, heating it up to reach temperature this …
