I have a plastic figurine on my keep cup.
It’s a Sminski. He’s holding a tiny green mobile phone, and glows in the dark. I look directly at his puzzled little face every time I take sip. I’ve named him Jiji.
According to the University of Melbourne, us Australians throw out 2,700,000 paper coffee cups a day. That’s the equivalent to around 45 flights from Sydney to London in Co2.
So, I have a keep cup.
But, according to the University of California, Sminskis are un-recyclable. Jiji will be holding his mobile phone, glowing, ten feet underground for decades after I’m dead. PVC, which makes up his whole body, is one of the most dangerous plastic to humans and the environment.
But he keeps me using my keep cup.
The flight from my home country of Australia to London is nearly a full day of travel, with the trip from Sydney to Heathrow using 6.7 tonnes of Co2. When compared to celebrities who jump in a jet to go to McDonalds, looking for the most eco-friendly flight can feel useless. But it isn’t- UN Sustainable goal 12.a shows that purchasing sustainable transport makes a difference. Sustainable transport saw a 96% rise, pushed by people and businesses that understand that it’s what you can do to make bad things neutral, not worse. When booking my flights, I followed the Sydney Morning Herald’s advice on ‘low-emission flights’, focusing on both plane type and airline to limit my impact. I also focused on limiting my emissions through a Brit rail pass- following Greentraveller.co.uk’s guide to Flight-free routes. As well as this, I planned my day-trips through guides such as National Geographic’s ‘How to Travel Better: A beginner’s guide to sustainable travel’ and EcoFreek’s ‘’Sustainable Travel Through the UK’. While I can’t be perfect, Jiji and I can strive to be better.
I also understand that overseas travel is what allow for global change. UN Target 12.1 and 13.2, focusing on temperatures and natural disasters, are relevant in my home Country, as record heats and horrific floods become worse and worse every year. By travelling to the United Kingdom, and by studying in a different environment, students can take back ways to help their own country- and bring ways to help their new home. The United Kingdom is committed to limiting it’s emissions in ways Australia struggles, with coal emissions decreased 68% from the 70’s- while Australia has barely budged.
Just like Jiji, flights are a negative to create a positive. International travel can remind individuals of what there is to conserve, and why global connections are so important in lasting sustainability. While the most ‘sustainable’ thing would most likely be to sit in a cave, to make change, flights have to be taken. As Jiji and I get ready to fly, we’ll at least know that we’re able to make a difference.
References:
1. https://sustainablecampus.unimelb.edu.au/reduce-reuse-recycle/coffee-cups
2. https://newuniversity.org/2024/09/13/sonny-angels-and-smiskis-the-environmental-impact-of-your-small-friend/
3. https://travelnav.com/emissions-from-london-united-kingdom-to-sydney-australia
4. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/16/route-of-the-matter-your-flights-itinerary-can-dramatically-change-its-carbon-footprint
5. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal13#progress_and_info
6. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-to-travel-better-a-beginners-guide-to-sustainable-travel-in-2023-and-beyond
7. https://ecofreek.com/biodegradable/sustainable-travel-through-the-uk-perfect-spots-for-ecotourism/
8. https://www.greentraveller.co.uk/flight-free-journey-planner
