Coffee has long dominated the morning beverage scene, fueling over a billion people every day with its bold flavor and caffeine kick. However, it has also been scrutinized for its environmental footprint, since each cup requires vast amounts of water, contributes to deforestation, and often raises ethical concerns about fair working conditions for farmers. While coffee remains the go-to choice for many, there are alternative drinks that offer their own unique benefits, flavors, and environmental impacts. Chai, matcha, and energy drinks are popular alternatives to coffee. Let’s look at how they compare in their caffeine levels and environmental impact.

Matcha

Matcha, a finely ground green tea powder, offers a gentler caffeine boost than coffee while boasting a more sustainable environmental footprint. A typical cup of matcha contains around 60 to 70 milligrams of caffeine, compared to the 95 milligrams in an average 8-ounce cup of coffee. This provides a more balanced energy lift without the jitters or crashes that some experience with coffee.

Environmentally, matcha requires significantly less water to produce – about 8,856 liters per kilogram – while coffee demands over double that amount at 19,000 liters. Additionally, organic matcha farming reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, as it is often cultivated using traditional methods like hand-picking leaves and shading tea bushes to enhance flavor. Matcha is also grown on small plots of land, which helps preserve soil biodiversity.

Unlike coffee, which generates waste from discarded grounds and filters, matcha uses the entire tea leaf and minimizes waste. Plus, since matcha is a powder, it eliminates the need for tea bags and extra packaging. This makes it an eco-friendlier alternative for those looking to reduce their environmental impact while still enjoying a morning caffeine boost.

Chai

Chai – a spiced tea blend traditionally made with black tea, milk, and various spices like cardamom, cinnamon, or ginger – offers a flavorful alternative to coffee. In terms of caffeine content, chai typically contains around 40–60 milligrams per cup. This makes it a good option for those looking to cut back on caffeine while still enjoying a warm, energizing drink. When made with milk or plant-based alternatives, chai also provides a creamy texture that can rival the richness of a latte.

From an environmental perspective, chai has a lower water footprint than coffee, largely due to the lower water requirements of tea cultivation. Black tea – the base of most chai blends – requires significantly less water per kilogram than coffee. However, the total environmental impact can vary depending on additional ingredients such as milk and spices.

Additionally, chai can become an even more sustainable choice when sourced from organic or fair-trade farms, which minimize pesticide use and ensure ethical labor practices. Unlike single-use coffee pods or takeaway cups, loose-leaf chai or chai concentrates can be prepared with minimal waste, especially when brewed at home. With its bold flavors, customizable nature, and lower environmental impact, chai serves as a compelling alternative for those looking to swap their morning coffee for something both sustainable and satisfying.

Energy Drinks

Energy drinks provide a quick and convenient caffeine boost, typically containing between 80 and 300 milligrams of caffeine per can. These levels far exceed those regularly found in coffee or tea. While energy drinks are popular for their immediate energy-enhancing effects, their environmental impact is a growing concern, particularly due to packaging waste and ingredient sourcing. The majority of energy drinks also come with a long list of health concerns.

One of the biggest environmental drawbacks of energy drinks is their packaging. Some are sold in plastic bottles, which contribute to plastic waste and pollution if not properly recycled. Aluminum cans, on the other hand, are generally considered a more sustainable option due to their high recycling rate. Choosing brands that use recyclable materials and making sure to properly dispose of containers can help mitigate this issue. Additionally, the production of sugar – a key ingredient in many energy drinks – requires large amounts of water.

Another lesser-known concern is caffeine pollution; some studies suggest that caffeine from energy drinks can enter waterways through wastewater and potentially impact aquatic life. While research on this issue is ongoing, it highlights yet another ecological downside of energy drinks. Given these challenges, consumers looking for a more sustainable energy boost may want to consider other morning beverages with lower environmental impacts.

Other Ways to Reduce Your Caffeinated Cup’s Impact

No matter which morning beverage you sip on, there are ways to make your daily cup more sustainable. One of the simplest steps is to reduce single-use waste by brewing your drink at home, bringing a reusable to-go cup, or opting to dine in when ordering from a café. Disposable coffee cups, plastic lids, and stirrers contribute to significant waste, much of which is not easily recyclable but easily avoidable. By making small changes to how you consume your drinks, you can help cut down on unnecessary packaging and landfill waste.

Choosing organic ingredients is another way to reduce your beverage’s environmental impact. Organic coffee tea products are produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, which protects soil health and reduces water pollution. Additionally, supporting brands that prioritize fairtrade and sustainable farming practices ensures that workers are treated fairly and that crops are grown with long-term environmental health in mind.

Your milk choice also plays a big role in the overall footprint of your drink. Dairy milk requires significant water, land, and energy resources, while plant-based alternatives like oat, soy or almond milk come with their own environmental trade-offs. Oat milk generally has the lowest water and carbon footprint of dairy alternatives. Almond milk on the other hand has the one of the largest water footprints out of plant-based milk alternatives. By being mindful of how your drink is sourced, packaged, and consumed, you can enjoy your morning beverage of choice at a lower cost to the planet.

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The fashion industry threatens the environment with pollution, waste, and resource depletion. New laws push for transparency and sustainability in the sector.

The fashion industry is one of the largest industries in the world, and it has somehow managed to remain almost entirely unregulated. Every year, the fashion industry generates 92 million tons of landfill waste, adding pollutants to the environment and using up vast amounts of resources in the process. Over the past 15 years, textile production has doubled. Without authoritative intervention, the industry will continue to expand with disregard for the environmental cost. 

A disturbing majority of companies operate with little to no legal oversight, free to make their own decisions when it comes to sustainability and transparency. Governments across the globe are slowly adopting and implementing new legislation in hopes of minimizing the fashion industry’s environmental and social impacts. 

EARTHDAY.ORG’s new report, Broken Threads & Twisted Yarns: Legislating the Reform of Fashion, covered the fashion industry’s environmental impacts and recent legislative efforts to make the industry more sustainable. Here are three laws featured in the report specifically focused on waste that exemplify ways governments can regulate a largely unchecked industry in order to benefit our planet.

1. European Union: Ban On Destruction Of Unsold Textiles

As part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, the E.U. introduced a groundbreaking ban on the destruction of unsold clothing and footwear, a significant step toward having a sustainable fashion industry. This law, which will take effect in July of 2026 for the largest enterprises and from July 2030 for medium-sized enterprises,  aims to combat the environmental impact of fashion by prohibiting the disposal of unsold clothing items through incineration or landfilling.

The legislation is part of the E.U.’s broader strategy to promote a circular economy, where products and materials are reused, repaired, and recycled. Under the new rule, fashion companies are required to find alternative solutions for their unsold stock, such as donating to charities recycling or repurposing the materials for new products. This shift is expected to reduce the volume of textile waste significantly and hopefully encourages more sustainable practices in the industry.

2. California, USA: Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024

The Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 is a trailblazing piece of legislation. It is the first program in the U.S. that holds fashion companies accountable for the recycling, reuse, and collection of their products. The bill was approved by California Governor Gavin Newsom in September of 2024 after passing in the state senate with an 80% majority vote. 

The bill requires apparel manufacturers in the state to create and join a producer responsibility organization (PRO). Each PRO must develop a plan that oversees the lifecycle of their company’s textile products, including collection, transportation, repair, sorting, recycling, and safe management. By July 1, 2026, all producers must be a part of a PRO approved by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. By July 1, 2028 the Department must adopt regulations to implement the stewardship program, to create and implement a plan for textile waste management and set requirements for its execution. Thereafter the PRO has one year to create a program to collect, repair, and recycle apparel and textiles. Once that is approved, the PRO has one year to implement it. By July 1, 2030 producer obligations take effect and must be in compliance to avoid civil penalties. 

To ensure transparency and accountability in the fashion industry, the PROs are required to report their activities and progress every year. Additionally, the department plans to maintain a public list of all compliant producers in California, allowing consumers to make more informed purchasing choices. If a company violates their program’s requirements, they can be fined up to $10,000 per day or $50,000 per day for an intentional violation. 

In 2023, New York State introduced the New York Proposal for Textile EPR essentially following the same structure as the California EPR bill. 

3. Chile: The Draft Circular Economy Strategy for Textiles

The Chilean Ministry of Environment proposed the Draft Circular Economy Strategy for Textiles in August, 2024. This strategy, which is part of a bigger effort to shift away from linear economies in Chile, follows the vision of the Roadmap for a Circular Chile by 2040. The strategy is aimed at transforming Chile’s textile industry toward sustainability. It focuses on reducing the environmental impact of textile industries by promoting circular practices such as recycling, reuse, and extending the lifespan of garments. The strategy envisions a reduction in textile waste, enhanced resource efficiency, and a shift from a linear “take-make-dispose” model to a circular economy where textiles are used, reused, and ultimately recycled into new products.

Two major issues for Chile’s textile sector are that Chile imports many thousands of tons of used textiles each year, 70% of which end up in landfills and illegal dumps, and Chile’s own high consumption rate of new clothing.  This proposed regulation addresses both. The strategy outlines several key actions, including designing products for durability and recyclability, improving waste management systems (including an Extended Producer Responsibility requirement), and establishing a national recycling infrastructure. It also promotes consumer awareness and business involvement in sustainable practices. This policy sets a clear framework for textile producers, retailers, and consumers to minimize waste and environmental harm. The Chilean strategy could serve as a model for other nations seeking to align the fashion industry with principles of circularity and sustainability.

Don’t Be Fashionably Late! Act Now.

While these pieces of legislation highlight ways that governments have regulated the fashion industry to benefit the planet, there is still much progress to be made. As consumers, everyone has power and a voice when it comes to changing the wasteful ways of fashion. The first step to enacting change is to educate yourself and in turn help teach others. To learn more about the environmental footprint of the fashion industry and other recent laws pushing for change globally, read and share EARTHDAY.ORG’s report.

The fashion industry is still in dire need of reform. EARTHDAY.ORG’s petition for change is calling on the U.S. Administration to instruct the EPA, Federal Trade Commission, and U.S. Department of Labor to create regulations to protect the environment and people’s health. Sign now to join the movement against fast fashion and help advocate for transparency as well as sustainability in fashion industries.

People living in the U.S. can also send an email to local lawmakers. As the U.S. falls behind other countries in progressive fashion legislation, you can urge your legislators to stand against fast fashion and end the greedy consumption of the earth’s finite resources and the exploitation of its workers.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is also cleared for use. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org.

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