By: Lorenza Zebell
Q: I love my morning coffee but sometimes wonder about its environmental impact. How can I prioritize sustainability when choosing coffee?
A:I’m a big fan of caffeine, in both coffee and tea form, so I’ve thought about this quite a bit! There are many ways to help you enjoy a morning brew while prioritizing sustainability. Being conscious of where the beans and leaves come from, supporting local, and reducing waste are all aspects to consider.
Certifications like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and USDA Certified Organic labels can help steer you to a more sustainable choice for both coffee and tea. These certifications each have different qualifications and are not all-inclusive, but they are a great start to knowing if your product comes from a farm that treats workers more fairly and adheres to a standard to protect natural ecosystems.
Consider buying shade-grown (sometimes called bird-friendly) coffee which is grown under a canopy of trees to help preserve biodiversity and support natural habitats for birds and other wildlife. This habitat is essential for migratory and resident birds in tropical areas, which face deforestation worldwide.
I am a regular at a few local cafes, as I’m sure many of you are as well. Supporting local roasters and tea shops can reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and support our economy. Dane County is home to several great coffee and tea roasters for you to explore. Shout out to cafe and Sustain Dane member Hodge Podge for their sustainability-informed approach to coffee.
However, all the single-use items at cafés like disposable cups, plastic lids, and single-use stirrers do contribute to the global waste crisis. Drink your beverage in house or bring your reusable cup when going out for a beverage. Many coffee shops offer discounts for bringing your own cup.
Remember that plastic cups #1, #2, and #5 are recyclable in the City of Madison and many surrounding communities. All other numbers of plastic cups belong in the trash. Hot coffee cups and sleeves are recyclable as well, but not the black lids. Cafés are also starting to use more certified compostable cups – don’t recycle those, instead compost them at the shop you got it from or with a composter that accepts them like Green Box.
If you prefer brewing at home, manual brewing methods like French press, pour-over, and AeroPress reduce the energy consumption associated with electric coffee makers. For tea, loose-leaf is more preferred compared to tea bags because many tea bags contain plastic, which can be unhealthy to consume and harmful to the environment.
Speaking of waste, let’s talk about what happens to those brewed grounds and leaves. Coffee grounds and tea leaves are a great source of nutrients for your compost, and you can even throw coffee grounds directly on your garden beds as a soil amendment. If you don’t have space to compost, you can bring your grounds and tea to one of our food scrap drop off locations. By composting your coffee grounds and tea leaves, you can close the loop on your morning brew’s impact, turning waste into valuable resources for your garden or local community.