4 Tips for Making Sustainable Coffee at Home

4 Tips for Making Sustainable Coffee at Home

Did you know that 60 billion coffee pods end up in landfills every year, and 80% of these find their way to the ocean? Most coffee pods are from aluminium or plastic, which takes ages to decompose. While aluminium is recyclable, many people do not have time to empty the pods and clean them before recycling. However, you can reduce waste from your daily coffee routine by swapping your regular pods with compostable coffee pods or changing your coffee habits. Here are a few tips for enjoying sustainable coffee at home:

  1. Choose Fair Trade, Organic and Shade Grown Coffee

Coffee is a volatile product whose price varies annually, affecting the farmers’ ability to produce decent yields. Fair Trade certification ensures a sustainable supply chain where farmers receive a fair price, promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices. Fair Trade coffee suppliers adhere to those requirements, thereby providing sustainable coffee. Fair Trade coffee varieties are also organic, making them the most sustainable pods. Organic coffee cultivation and harvesting do not involve pesticides or chemical fertilisers that are harmful to the ecosystem. Instead of cutting trees to grow coffee, some farmers grow their beans alongside trees to preserve the natural habitat, which leads to a richer coffee flavour.

  1. Avoid Single-Serve Coffee Pods

Single-serve coffee pods are very convenient, making them popular among coffee enthusiasts. However, most of the pods are plastic, which ends up in landfills. While some aluminium pods are recyclable, you need to take them to collection points after removing the coffee grounds. Instead of single-serve coffee, you can use reusable pods and refill the coffee grounds. If cleaning and refilling the pods is a lot of work, use single-serve compostable coffee pods. You can dispose of the pods with other organic food since they are biodegradable.

4 Tips for Making Sustainable Coffee at Home

  1. Compost Used Coffee Grounds

Do not throw away your coffee grounds when you can use them to fertilise your garden. Coffee contains Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus, which make it an excellent fertiliser for young plants. For instance, Nitrogen promotes the growth of leafy vegetables and improves the quality of the soil. Therefore, instead of sending the used grounds to the landfill, spread them in your garden. For best results, leave the coffee grounds to dry or steep them in water to make a liquid fertiliser.

  1. Use a Reusable Coffee Mug

Making your coffee at home promotes sustainability since you can save energy and choose organic products. You are also likely to use a reusable mug to carry your coffee to work, unlike at a coffee shop where you will use a disposable coffee cup. Even when you buy coffee, you can carry your reusable mug. Some coffee shops provide a discount for bringing your mug to promote eco-friendly coffee habits.

Conclusion

To reduce the environmental impact of non-reusable coffee pods, Halo Coffee has introduced environmentally friendly coffee practices. Apart from compostable coffee pods, they have sustainable coffee packaging. Even the flavours blended into the coffee beans are organic to promote environmental sustainability.

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