Stanley Tumblers; the Eco-Friendly Craze Going Overboard
The Stanley Tumbler, a durable and reusable water bottle, has risen to popularity as a more sustainable alternative to throwaway plastic bottles. However, the popularity of the tumbler has led to people owning dozens of them, with some editions causing mini stampedes when they are released. Although considered a fad by some trend forecasters, the #StanleyCup hashtag has been viewed billions of times on TikTok, resulting in a boom for the company’s sales which reached an estimated $750 million in 2023. Despite the environmental benefits of the tumbler, it also highlights the phenomenon of so-called eco-conscious products leading to overconsumption.
The trend is viewed as an example of sustainable products becoming a catalyst for buying more, which can potentially cancel out environmental benefits. Even the owner of just one reusable mug may hardly be able to compensate the environmental impact of the mug’s manufacturing process.
Moreover, the manufacturing process of the Stanley Tumbler relies on coal and only 23 percent of product materials are made from recycled steel. The company aims to increase this to at least 50 percent by 2025, but the shortage of recycled steel makes this a challenging goal.
The study also indicates that the tumbler’s lifespan isn’t long enough to offset the environmental impact of its production. This has created questions about the sustainability of the product.
The Silver lining, however, is that the reusable bottle trend helps reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles and raises awareness about the benefits of using reusable products, despite its societal impact. Indeed, the apparent culture shift towards reusable bottles could have a positive impact on the environment. Despite the criticisms, the movement has opened up a new market for eco-friendly products, with a new “It” bottle already on the horizon – the Owala.
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