Last month, I wrote an article about making a personal stand against throwaway cups. Since it got picked up by the Huffington Post, it’s about time I demonstrated that I’m a man whose words are equally balanced by his deeds.

In short: meet my mug.

Yes, it’s from Starbucks. Stake me to a tree and set wild leopards on me if you like, but I feel it’s a gracious act to choose a receptacle sold by the beverage vendor most likely to fill it. Also, I couldn’t find another one as nice at the time. But mainly the first reason, I promise.

The Starbucks Venti Carrot-Grip BeanBuster (this is my own name for it, I should add) is fashioned from reassuringly hefty ceramic and is laterally enrobed in an endearingly tactile band of faux-rubbery orange plastic. It’s microwave and dishwasher proof, and it’s made in China. For Starbucks.

Ethical crusaders may be kicking up a fuss here. Where in China? It’s plastic. And, and it’s Starbucks! But it’s a nice mug and it’s a start. It’s a tote bag for liquids – and I’m sure I can think of other tote bag analogues to work into my lifestyle.

But there’s another thing I like about it. It doesn’t have a handle.

I like this for 2 reasons.

Firstly, it feels every-so-slightly medieval, distinctive and rebellious to drink out of such a cup – and you can’t quaff from a handled cup, dammit.

And secondly, I used to work at a pottery – and my job was processing mug handles before they got stuck on. I’ve had my life’s share of them (over a million, I’ve estimated). I believe I’ve earned the right to opt out.

Cheers.