Your Morning Cup of Coffee is Almost Perfect… Almost. Here’s how to Make it Greener
It’s a popular meme because it’s true: Most of us can’t bear to talk to anyone or start the day at all without a cup of coffee. Just ask Finland. Its inhabitants consume up to 12kgs of coffee a year, per person. Hot on their heels are Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
And with that much demand comes a heavy environmental price tag. For example, farmers look for a higher yield in a shorter amount of time, which often means excessive use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
So, how can We Make Coffee Production More Sustainable?
Well. We (farmers) can start by using better crop management techniques. For example, using organic farming practices, and shade grown farming practices (a traditional method where coffee plants provide canopy to birds). In this blog post, however, we will be shining the light a little closer to home.
3 Ways to Green Your Morning Coffee
1. Invest in a Reusable Coffee Cup
It’s estimated that 500 billion disposable cups are thrown into landfills each year. Add to that the fact that most of them contain a plastic coating on the inside to make the cup waterproof, which means it is difficult to process, separate, and recycle. If you are looking to caffeinate responsibly, one thing that you can do is change the coffee cups you use on-the-go.
Ditch the paper or Styrofoam and buy reusable steel, ceramic, or BPA and BPS free plastic coffee mugs (the KeepCup is our favorite – check it out). Most restaurants and coffee shops welcome the use of reusable cups – just make sure your cup size matches up with their sizes.
Tip: Just like reusable shopping bags, coffee mugs can be easy to forget. We suggest making a habit of cleaning yours as soon as you get home and putting it straight back in your car.
2. Skip the Coffee Capsules (Even if they’re Recyclable)
Coffee capsules can’t be recycled easily because they are often made of a mixture of plastic and aluminium. This means they end up filling landfills. Think about how many cups of coffee you have on a good day? Exactly.
Now, in theory, biodegradable coffee capsules are made up of PLA (ployactic acid) that can be extracted from corn starch, which makes them an eco-friendly option. Coffee capsules that biodegrade or compost are great for reducing waste, but it’s difficult to dispose of them correctly, and to know just how much your pod contributes nutrients back to the earth.
We think it’s best to ditch them altogether. You could invest in a pod-less, single-brew machine, a French press, or pour-over brewer. Sure, it takes a little longer to make, but it’s worth it. If you are really pressed for time, another option is Senseo. They introduced a compostable coffee pad (instead of plastic or aluminium, Senseo pads are made of compostable paper). While they don’t keep as long, Senseo pads are a great option if you have a compost bin — just throw the whole pad in.
Did you Know: Coffee Capsules are Banned in Hamburg’s Government-run Buildings
The German city of Hamburg were the first city (back in 2016) to ban coffee capsules in government-run buildings, offices, universities, and schools. Imagine the impact we could have if more governments around the world did the same!
Coffee Capsules Belong in your Residual Waste Bin
According to the Green Dot system (Gruener Punkt), coffee capsules should not be thrown into your organic bin because, due to one of the standards of decomposition, the materials must decompose by at least 90%.
3. Recycle
If you’re in love with the convenience and quickness of coffee capsules, you can still lessen your environmental impact. Nespresso pods are recyclable, in theory, but you can’t just throw them in your home recycling bin — you’ll need to make sure they make it to the company’s own special recycling centres.
Keurig and Starbucks Verismo pods are made of #5 plastic – so with both, you’ll need to let them cool down, then peel the lid off and dump the grounds (which can be composted!). You can recycle the rest. In addition to the grounds, Verismo filters are not recyclable, so you’ll need to remove them as well.
Tip: If you have a garden, use your coffee grounds as a natural plant fertilizer.
Bonus tip: Reduce
Hear us out. Instead of three cups, go for two. If you only have two, try for one. Everyone knows that nothing beats that first cup of coffee in the morning anyway, so why try duplicating that same magic in a second or third cup?
Every big change starts with a small one. Try making your morning coffee routine more sustainable and eco-friendlier. Together we can get there!
