More than half of the American population drinks coffee on a daily basis. Imagine what we could accomplish if every coffee drinker was just a little more mindful of their coffee habits and the impact they have on the planet. At Dilworth Coffee, we believe every day is Earth Day. Here are just a few simple ways to be a more environmentally friendly coffee drinker.
Take a Reusable Cup
Contrary to popular belief, paper to-go cups are not recyclable. This is because they are coated with plastic polymers like polyethylene and polystyrene to make them liquid-proof. When you think about the 14 billion+ paper coffee cups thrown away each year (enough to circle the earth over 55 times!), it’s hard not to consider the impact that kind of waste has on our planet. It’s probably the last thing on your mind when you’re out enjoying a coffee, but every cup adds to the pile.
Luckily, there’s a simple solution – reusable cups, baby! Bringing your own reusable cup to the coffee shop prevents one from going into a landfill, and that’s what making a difference is all about. Environmentally conscious products like KeepCup are already responsible for diverting billions of disposable cups from landfill, and that’s a big deal to us at Dilworth Coffee.
Use Eco-friendly Brew Methods
When it comes to brewing coffee, some methods are definitely better for the environment than others. Brewing coffee inevitably produces waste, but there are some easy ways to reduce the amount. One of the most wasteful methods of brewing is with single-cup Keurig coffee pods. This popular brewing system produces a controversial amount of unrecyclable plastic waste, not to mention the electricity and water that it needs to make just one cup of coffee. There are plenty of less-wasteful ways to make a (much tastier) cup of coffee.
Dilworth Coffee does not sell or use single-cup coffee pods because we believe they create an inexcusable amount of waste. Instead, we use paper filters and make large batch drip brews for our high traffic customers. We use as much multi-purpose equipment as possible to produce as little waste as possible.
Buy Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee
If you want to be sure that your coffee is coming from a farm that is dedicated to conserving wildlife, protecting soil and waterways, and achieving true and long-term sustainability, then you need to look for Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee. To receive Rainforest Alliance certification, a coffee farm must meet strict environmental, economic, and social requirements. Our Nicaragua Selva Negra is a great example of coffee from one such farm.
The owners of the Selva Negra farm, Eddy and Mausi Kühl, are just as committed to ecological agriculture as they are to high-quality coffee. They have preserved hundreds of acres of vast virgin rainforest on the estate, protecting land that is home to diverse wildlife, hiking trails, and organic gardens. They have been recognized around the world for their commitment towards sustainability and conservation. The Selva Negra estate uses alternative energy and reduces their carbon footprint by recycling and repurposing as much material as possible.
Reuse and Repurpose Coffee Grounds
We’ve tooted this horn before, but we’re happy to toot it again! There are all kinds of creative, useful, and money-saving ways to reuse your old coffee grounds. Instead of adding to that landfill, why not consider how your old coffee might be repurposed around the house, in the garden, or even on your body? It might sound ridiculous, but you’d be surprised at how much you can do with your “trash.” Repel bugs. Re-stain wood. Add to compost. Make a candle. Enrich your fertilizer. Yep, all with old coffee! Check out our article here for more in-depth suggestions for putting those grounds to good use. Or think of some new ways!
It’s often the smallest decisions that can make the biggest difference. If you live a more sustainable life, maybe you’ll inspire someone else to do the same. Happy Earth Day! We can’t wait to see you and your reusable cup!
For more information on coffees offered by Dilworth Coffee, please contact a Customer Care Associate at 800 835 5943.
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