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Posts Tagged ‘Rainforest Alliance’

Did you know that coffee is the most popular commodity in the world, after oil? Of course you did… you’re smart and sophisticated. That’s why you’re reading this blog. But what most people don’t consider is that all of this demand for coffee is beating up the environment. Just think of how many coffee houses there are in the US. Then think about the coffee shops in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Then consider the amount of fuel it takes to transport coffee beans from Indonesia, Africa, Columbia, etc across the world. Then imagine the millions of disposable paper cups, styrofoam cups, napkins, coffee stirrers,coffee tops, etc. that are thrown into garbage heaps every day. Then think of how much water it takes to cultivate, harvest, and eventually brew all of that coffee. Some stats say that it takes 200 liters of water to produce just one latte.

These stats are pretty dis-heartening, but don’t let it get you down. Yes coffee does do a number on the environment, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop drinking it altogether. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do the lessen the effect of your coffee habit on the earth.

1). Drink Less – This isn’t the easiest thing for most people, but cutting at least some coffee out of your diet is bound to help the environment (not to mention keep your teeth wither) If this isn’t possible, don’t fret, there are plenty of good tips below.

2). Drink Local Coffee – Because shipping coffee beans around the world spews tons of toxic smoke into the atmosphere, look for coffee beans grown in countries closer to you. Love Kopi Luwak (the bean is best when it passes through the digestive tract of a small tree mammal called the luwak)? There are tons of other specialty blends that you can get that are grown much closer to home. I know Kopi Luwak tastes good, but it comes from an animal’s feces and it shipped from half-way across the world. I’m just sayin’…

3). Buy Organic – Organic coffee is great because it’s (obviously) grown without chemicals, and is usually grown in such a way that protects sensitive ecosystems and the birds that live within them. Most of these toxic chemicals are produced in factories that spew toxins into the environment themselves, so you’re killing birds with one stone by going organic.

4). Stay Away From Corporate Coffee – More and more coffee giants are cutting down forest and converting them into large agricultural coffee plantations. The deforestation is not only horrible for the environment, it produces inferior quality coffee. Add that to the fact that the coffee farmers themselves can barely make a living working in these massive corporate coffee farms.

5). Choose Fair Trade Coffee – If you’re going organic, and avoiding corporate coffee, you might as well buy fair trade coffee. Rainforest Alliance and Transfair coffees not only ensure fair living wages for coffee farmers, they take into account environmental standards in their certification process. It won’t immediately lift people out of poverty, but it’s a start.

6). Just Use a Mug – This one is a no-brainer. But it’s easier if you invest in a really cool mug that you will want to use over and over again; eliminating the need for plastic or Styrofoam cups. There are plenty of websites that sell cool, unique, and funny coffee mugs. Or you can create one by yourself at CafePress.

7). Ditch the Stirrer – Rather than mixing sugar and cream with a plastic spoon or stirrer, try pouring them into an empty cup. Then gently pour your hot coffee on top, letting the heat naturally dissolve the sugar and mix the cream. It takes some practice. Or you could just use a metal spoon.

8). Use Better Filters – Not only are they better for the environment, re-usable gold coffee filters yield a better, less bitter cup of coffee. If that’s not your thing, just look for unbleached, biodegradable ones.

9). Make a Compost Heap – If you already have a compost heap, you probably throw egg shells, banana peels, and old food into it. Why not add coffee grounds (if you don’t already)? The next time you make some coffee, rather than throwing out the used coffee grounds, toss them in your compost heap, or directly into your garden. All the nitrogen in the coffee is a powerful fertilizer.

10). Keep Away Pesky Felines – Instead of using harsh chemicals in your garden to keep away unwanted pests like ants and neighborhood cats, sprinkle coffee grounds and orange peels in your garden. The nitrogen in the coffee burns ants’ legs and is better for the environment than using harmful chemicals. Cats don’t like the smell of coffee either.

So here are 10 easy ways to make your coffee habit less harmful to the environment. I’m sure there are tons of others. Please feel free to share your own tips.

http://TheCoffeeMakerStore.com is a daily blog and e-commerce store about coffee, coffee makers, and coffee culture. Feel free to download the free “eco friendly coffee tips” widget from there as well.

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