A cup of sustainable coffee is a small step in the right direction when it comes to a ‘healthier’ planet. It is important that we try to make our coffee habits more sustainable as it is prevalent in many of our lives: the morning pick-me-up, the afternoon boost, relaxing with a cup in the evenings. By following the three simple steps below you will be on your way to creating a better future!
Choose Fairtrade or UTZ Certified Coffee
The term ‘fair trade’ gets thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean? Fairtrade is an ethical certification that requires businesses to pay farmers in developing countries a fair price for their crop, in turn creating a more transparent and sustainable supply chain.
The Rainforest Alliance and UTZ merged in 2018 in response to the critical challenges facing humanity: deforestation, climate change, systemic poverty, and social inequality. UTZ farmers are trained in good agricultural practices like water recycling and purification. They know how to adapt to climate change and must provide good labour conditions for their workers.
By purchasing these types of coffee, you are making a conscious decision to ensure the coffee you provide is harvested correctly and fairly.
Use a reusable cup
Wrap your hands around a traditional ceramic mug or if you are on the move a reusable coffee cup maybe a more practical way to enjoy all the delicious benefits of your takeaway coffee without the environmental cost. Although you might think your usual takeaway cup is recyclable because it’s mostly made of paper, that paper is often lined with a type of plastic called polyethylene that takes years to break down. If you want to eliminate waste without spending any money, start using ceramic mugs or a reusable coffee cup. Some people might be averse to switching from paper cups, but encourage your colleagues and co-workers to use a reusable cup where they can.
Compost your coffee grounds
Don’t tip those coffee grounds straight in the bin - turn them into compost instead! As well as being a brilliant beverage, coffee is a brilliant fertiliser, thanks to its high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other trace minerals that are beneficial to plant health.
By making these three small changes you can make a big difference, by reducing plastic waste, encouraging fair trading and helping to create a healthier rainforest.
Here at Crown Water and Coffee we stock a variety of eco-friendly Fairtrade and UTZ certified products as well as links to sourcing compostable cups. If you think these products will be right for your business, follow the link below to find out more!
