Make Your Coffee Routine More Eco-Friendly

Since you're here reading this post, I think it's safe to assume that your coffee ritual is a staple part of your morning (and maybe mid day) routine. Being that enjoying a cup of Joe is a shared experience among so many of us, what better way to have a positive impact than making it a more sustainable experience. In this post we'll walk through every step of your coffee routine and discuss ways to make it more eco-friendly, which might have a bigger impact than you think.

WHAT IF I GO TO STARBUCKS EVERYDAY?

Going out for coffee can be equally as much of a routine as waking up and making it at home. With ordering out however, you have less control of your beverages' preparation etc. which is exactly what makes it so appealing, there's a huge convenience factor. In this scenario my top recommendation is to bring you own cup. Yup, you read that right. Starbucks has made the commitment to reduce their use of single-use plastic by 50% by the year 2030, and has since reinstated their bring your own cup policies within the U.S. in support of that goal. The cups of course need to be clean before bringing them in, and the baristas will double check that before preparing your drink. Read about the rest of the protocols here. As it stands right now this is only

 honored when ordering in store and not in the drive through. If you are committed to the drive through, be sure to properly recycle your cup. This includes cleaning your cups/lids and checking each piece for the recycling symbols and disposing of them accordingly.

WHAT IF I USE A KEURIG? (or other coffee pods)

If you are an avid coffee pod/K-cup conessuir you might think you're doing the world a service by not contributing to the mountains of plastic and paper cups ending up in landfills, and you would be correct. But did you know that around 13 BILLION disposable K-cups end up in landfills each year? The solution to this is possibly the easiest sustainability swap you could make, and will also save you money in the long run. Use a refillable pod. I made this switch nearly 4 years ago...and I'm using the exact pod I started with. The best part is that it's dishwasher safe so having to clean it out is not a valid excuse here. Make the switch to buying bagged coffee or even refill a bag of coffee at a refill store if there is one near you and use that to fill your reusable K-cup. I grabbed mine from a local grocery store, but there are tons of versions online to explore like this one from Perfect Pod or this verson on amazon. Taking this one step further, you could also explore biodegradable pods. If there is a composting program near you or if you yourself practice composting, this is a great option. Tayst offers a wide variety of pods and might be worth checking out. It is important to note here that unless you dispose of them properly and in a way that allows them to break down, there is not a reduction in waste. Tossing them in the trash where they are confined within a plastic bag is not conducive to their use

as an eco-friendly product.

REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE COUNTLESS OTHER METHODS TO MAKING COFFEE THAT DON'T USE PODS OR FILTERS!

Going out for coffee and using at home convenience coffee machines are not the only options when it comes to your morning pick me up. Traditional coffee pots using coffee filters are equally convenient but do produce waste with the filters. Again if you compost, or have somewhere local you can drop it off, compostable coffee filters could be a good solution for you. Check out these from If You Care. 

Using a French press or stovetop coffee makers are great options for creating a more eco-friendly routine as neither of them use anything other than the item itself, water and coffee. A French press also allows you to conveniently make cold brew at home. There are many variations of these coffee makers so there is one for every size and budget you could ever imagine. Items like a French press could even be thrifted if you get lucky and can be very easily cleaned at home.

WHERE YOU BUY YOUR COFFEE BEANS MATTERS!

If you do make your coffee at home, regardless of method, buying coffee beans or grounds offers a great opportunity to vote with your dollar and support ethical and environmentally friendly harvesting practices. An easy way to do this at the grocery store is to pay attention to the symbols on the container. Try and buy coffee that is marked with things like fair trade, organic, rainforest alliance, bird friendly etc. You can get a brief overview of what these symbols all mean here. 

Whatever your coffee routine, hopefully this article gave you some inspiration on how you could make your routine a bit more sustainable. Adopting and being mindful of the practices above and adjusting your routine with practices that suit your lifestyle is what Imperfectly Sustainable is all about. Do what you can, and together we will make the world a better place. Check out some of our other posts to learn more about how to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle.