Zero Waste Coffee

There is something so satisfying about the aroma of freshly ground and brewed coffee. It’s enough to make you smile even though you have to get out of bed and you desperately wanted just 5 more minutes of sleep. For some people, coffee is a must have, a necessity to start the day or for their personality to kick in. For others, having a warm beverage in the morning is just a comforting part of the routine.

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The process of brewing coffee can be pretty wasteful, especially when it comes to those single use coffee pods and disposable coffee cups. But it doesn't have to be.

An estimated 50 billion* disposable coffee 

cups are used each year in the US alone.

If you’re buying coffee out, then you are in for some real savings, in money and time! If you are currently making coffee at home then it'll be even easier. Also, if you drink black coffee, then you are ahead of the game. We are not black coffee drinkers...

• First, the coffee. Every grocery store I've been to that has bulk bins - has bulk coffee. And they usually have a huge variety so you're bound to find one that you like. Our local natural grocery store has a pretty good selection of bulk coffee with organic options. It's nice if you can find one that is also fair trade and locally roasted! 

• Second, sweetener. We both like our coffee sweetened and generally just use organic unrefined cane sugar - which we find in the bulk bins. You can also use brown sugar, honey, agave, or maple syrup which can be found in the bulk section as well. 

• Next, milk or cream. The milk and cream we buy comes in glass containers**. They also have half and half but we find that it's actually less expensive to buy a pint of cream and a quart of whole milk and mix them ourselves, then we have a pint of whole milk left over, either to use plain in coffee or for some other recipes.

• Lastly, the brewing method. There are many options for brewing your coffee. Traditional coffee makers, french press, or pour over. While we have had many different brewing methods over the years, we prefer the french press or the pour over because they take up less space and you can find them made of glass, ceramic or stainless steel.  

By our calculations, it costs us just under 50 cents per cup, including organic unrefined sugar, and local non-homogenized half and half. Whereas when we were buying coffee at a cafe, we were spending about $10 per day. Obviously that comes down to beverage choice. We normally don't opt for plain coffee with cream at a coffee shop, but I don't know where you can get even regular coffee for under $1 a cup.

Although our main goal for going towards zero waste isn't necessarily a financial one, we are definitely seeing that we are saving money in some areas.

*I found this on CNN website - but I couldn’t find the reference from their source. One of their references led to which.co.uk, who estimates 2.5 billion paper cups are thrown away in the UK. 

** The lids on the glass milk containers are made out of recyclable plastic. Not a perfect solution - but maybe some day they'll have a better option for lids.

What is "Zero Waste"?

You may have heard the term Zero Waste being used recently. But what does it really mean? What is Zero Waste living?

There is a bit of ambiguity surrounding the Zero Waste movement in that there are a few different ideas of what Zero Waste really is. Some have criticized "zero wasters" for using the term so loosely. Let's look at few aspects that are generally combined to varying degrees by those professing to live zero waste.

Producing Zero Net Waste

Net waste, also known as post-consumer waste is anything that leaves your home, bound for the landfill. The majority of this waste is comprised of non-recyclable plastic, food waste, and contaminated recyclables. One of the most widely recognized forms of zero waste living involves reducing or eliminating this type of waste. Some people who are successfully living this way do so by diligently refusing disposables, not purchasing or accepting things they do not need, reusing things wherever possible, recycling everything they can, and composting food waste. Anything left goes into a jar.

These techniques are by far the most direct and easiest to influence for anyone who wishes to reduce their waste production. However there are other methods to employ in order to further the goal of a zero waste life.

Sustainability

In addition to producing less post-consumer waste, many have become more conscious of where their things come from and how they are produced. Many production processes are extremely wasteful, and the logistics of transporting goods from great distances adds wasted fuel to the equation. Many clothing retailers sell inexpensive clothes made of plastic textiles that were assembled in far away lands and transported to the outlet mall down the road. This contributes to global waste in a large way.

• The clothes are not made of a material that is biodegradable. What happens to it when you are done with it?
• Many clothing items are individually wrapped in plastic packaging.
• The fuel used to transport those goods adds to global pollution.

On the other hand, purchasing clothing made from natural, biodegradable materials like cotton, linen, wool, etc., and preferably items that were made as local as possible by small companies who care about their impact on the environment is a much more sustainable approach.

When we purchase items that are not made in a sustainable way, we increase the demand for those things, thereby driving the production of more unsustainable goods.

What can you do?

So what can you do? It is up to each person to decide what aspects of their lives they can change. Start with something simple. Start using a reusable water bottle, and reusable shopping bags. If everyone did so, that would keep 38 billion bottles and 1 trillion plastic bags out of landfills and our oceans each year. Once you've done that just keep making small changes. Here is a list of things you can do to lessen your waste.

The average American household uses

1,500 disposable plastic bags each year.

• Purchase higher quality goods made of natural materials.
• More expensive is not always better, but there is definitely something to be said about purchasing higher quality goods that will not only last longer but can be repaired. Take for example leather shoes of quality construction. They can usually be resoled once the soles wear out.

• Purchase only things that will be reused or recycled when you are finished with them, or are made of natural and biodegradable materials.
• Think about the life-cycle of everything that comes into your hands. What will happen to it when it's usefulness has expired?

• Make your own personal care products to reduce packaging waste.
• You can make anything from tooth powder to deodorant to makeup.

• Shop in bulk bins with your own reusable bags or containers.
• If you don't know where to shop, try using this bulk finder app.

• Purchase local to reduce transportation waste.
• Buy higher quality, natural clothing and less of it. Consider a capsule wardrobe.
• Shop second-hand stores.
• When you need to buy something, check second-hand stores or craigslist first. Buying second-hand eliminates packaging waste and reduces demand for the production of new goods.
• Cook at home with simple, local and in-season ingredients.
• Did you know that your grapes could travel more than 2,000 miles before reaching your local grocery store?
• Eat your leftovers.
• Just do it. Don't let food go to waste.
• Use food scraps that would normally be discarded to make stock.
• Save the ends of onions and onion skins, carrot tops, celery ends, and bones, etc. in the freezer (in a metal bowl, large mason jar, or other glass container) until you have enough.

These are just some of the ways that you can reduce your contribution to the global waste-stream. There are many more things that you can do. It all comes down to little decisions every day. Refuse that plastic straw. Plan ahead and bring a cloth napkin. There are so many more tips that we would like to share with you in future posts. Stay tuned...