Tag Archives: tumbler

Starbucks Japan lets you put a barista apron on customizable tumblers

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Whenever I see the latest Starbucks merch that drops in Japan, I kind of regret not living there so I can get easy access to these cute collectibles. Eventually they become available in various online stores in my country but they’re more expensive of course, even for a semi-collector like me. The Starbucks Japan online store is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and they released a customizable tumbler that you can customize and make look like a cute inanimate barista.

Designer: Starbucks

The My Custom Stainless Steel Bottle Barista is an online store exclusive product that you can customize and order with a possible 343 combinations. When you take a look at the basic tumbler, it just looks like any other regular tumbler but the joy comes in creating one according to your color preference and then dressing it up with other accessories to make it more like you. This is supposedly like how you would customize your drink if you’re that kind of Starbucks drinker.

When you place your order online, you can choose what color your cap, drinking rim, and bottle will be. There are seven color options – black, white, light green, green, pink, blue, and gradated pink-yellow. But the cutest customization here is that you can dress up the tumbler in a barista apron in its iconic green color. The apron is not just decorative but also functional as it can help you hold your drink if it’s too warm or too cold. There’s also a pocket where you can place notes, cards, or the beverage ticket that comes with your online order that lets you enjoy a free refill when you go to your Starbucks.

They also want you to add even more personalized touches to your tumbler like ribbons, patches, pins, and stickers, although they don’t seem to be selling things like that. Maybe they’ll do so eventually, like how Crocs sells things like Jibbitz charms. I’m still hoping someone from Japan will send me one of these cool steel bottles, no matter what the color combinations are.

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Eco-friendly tumbler uses thermoplastic made from unused wood byproducts

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Coffee lovers have thankfully become more conscious of the harmful effect their drinking habit has, not on their bodies but on the planet. Plastic cups are the biggest culprits, of course, but even paper cups actually take a toll on the environment in the long run. Paper is sustainable and biodegradable, but the rate at which we manufacture the material is faster than we can grow trees to maturity. At the same time, normal wood isn’t exactly a good material for reusable cups or tumblers that are becoming the go-to solution for environment-conscious drinkers of coffee, tea, or water. This design concept tries to offer a middle ground with a seemingly magic thermoplastic tumbler that is actually made from unused wood.

Designer: Kim Jiwoo (Designer Dot)

Wood is a material well-loved by designers because of its innate beauty and sustainability. But while it does grow on trees, trees don’t grow overnight. And while there are alternatives that make use of recycled synthetic materials like plastic, these don’t easily decompose like wood, which can turn into material that nourishes the soil that trees grow on. In other words, wood is the perfect circular economy material, and it would be great if it could take on the beneficial properties of plastic as well.

CXP or Cellulose Cross-linked Polymer is that growing (no pun intended) solution that promises the best of both worlds. It’s made of wood, specifically the cellulose that is the building block of trees and plants, but it has also been plasticized through specific chemical processes that are fortunately easy to reproduce. Unlike bioplastics that need very specific conditions before they decompose, CXP behaves exactly like wood in this regard. In other words, once this tumbler has reached the end of its life, it can be even used to nourish the soil for other trees whose discarded wood will be used to make more thermoplastics.

LINK is the expression of this sustainability innovation, a tumbler that tries to signify the connection between humans and trees on multiple levels. Its handle is intentionally shaped like a branch sprouting from a tree trunk, sporting a length that is ergonomic for any hand size. The trunk, which is the main body of the tumbler, is also shaped with ridges that try to mimic the uneven surfaces of trees, while also adding to the grippiness of the container.

Unlike a regular wooden vessel, LINK can be used to hold hot beverages like coffee since it is also a conventional thermoplastic. Spills, leaks, and slips can be prevented by using eco-friendly silicone, perhaps the only concession to this design. And because of the very nature of such recycled materials, there will be very noticeable specks of color that give each tumbler a unique identity that represents its special link to all life on the planet through wood.

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These earth-friendly sustainable cups add joy to every drink without harming the planet

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Even with all the advice to drink plenty of water each day, few people actually pay attention to what they drink. Even fewer, unfortunately, pay attention to what they’re drinking from. Glassware is common in some homes and fine dining, but you’re more likely to see plastic vessels everywhere else. This synthetic material does have its advantages, especially when it comes to durability, but its harmful effects on the environment have already piled up. Fortunately, you can have your personal cup and drink from it, too, thanks to the fusion of innovative, earth-friendly materials and simple yet elegant design, giving birth to this sustainable tumbler that brings a profound experience to every sip.

Designer: PAPLUS

Click Here to Buy Now: $22.50 $25 (10% off at checkout).

There are many plant-derived synthetic resins available today, but the most popular among them is PLA or polylactic acid, a thermoplastic derived from the lactic acid of fermented corn starch and sugar cane juice, among other natural sources. PAPLUS is a new type of thermoplastic resin that mixes biodegradable paper to add the heat resistance, durability, and moldability that normal PLA lacks. And from this innovative material, this earth-friendly tumbler is born.

Unlike the artificial smoothness of plastic, the PAPLUS Tumbler’s use of this environment-friendly material creates a unique texture that can be compared to ceramic or wooden cups. Each sip brings not only a wonderful flavor to your tongue but also an engaging sensation to your lips, elevating the act of drinking to a new level of sensory experience. Thanks to the heat resistance of 120°C, you can enjoy that moment whether your favorite drink is piping-hot cocoa or ice-cold barley tea.

This plastic-free drinking device doesn’t just mimic the sensation of elegant cups, it even looks the part as well. Using black pigments dissolved in harmless urethane, the tumbler achieves a matte black coating on the outside that looks naturally glossy without using blasting methods. The inside retains the PAPLUS’ natural brownish color and texture to yield a distinctive two-tone design. Over time, the color does become uneven and fade from use, revealing the individuality of the owner through the unique wear patterns that set it apart from each and every tumbler.

This tumbler’s commitment to protecting the environment extends to its packaging, made from 100% recycled paper from old newspapers and magazines. And, when it finally reaches the end of its service, the biodegradable tumbler can be treated as burnable waste or, better yet, recycled for a different purpose. With this elegant earth-friendly tumbler, each drink becomes not only a toast to memories but also a toast to the planet’s longer life.

Click Here to Buy Now: $22.50 $25 (10% off at checkout).

The post These earth-friendly sustainable cups add joy to every drink without harming the planet first appeared on Yanko Design.