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Worldchanging Crowdsourcing

Michelle Mullineaux
By Michelle Mullineaux
Collaborative Design

The betacup's goal is to eliminate paper cup consumption through the design of a more convenient alternative to the reusable coffee mug.

One of the reasons I work at ESI is because I’m a passionate believer in the power of collaboration and open innovation to help solve the great global environmental and social challenges of our time, so my ears perked up today when I heard about the betcup challenge sponsored by Starbucks. 

Drink coffee (or tea) on the go?  In a paper cup?  At five cups a week, the average North American consumes 250 cups a year, which adds up to 8 billion paper coffee cups being thrown away every year.  Ouch. Unfortunately, travel mugs have been slow to transform the issue — consumers find them bulky, inconvenient and hard to clean.

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