Eight ways to enjoy a guilt free coffee fix!

Filed in Blog by on September 10, 2020 1 Comment
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zero waste coffeeWe have an agreement here at Zero Waste Towers that I don’t speak to my husband until he’s had his morning coffee!

He only has one cup a day, but that cup is the difference between a good and bad day for him. So I’ve learned to keep out of his way until he has enough caffeine travelling around his body.

When we started our zero waste journey, it was difficult to find coffee packaging that didn’t end up in the bin. The only options seemed to be non-recyclable plastic pouches or nice glass jars that were let down with non-recyclable plastic lids.

I remember us being thrilled when we discovered our first zero waste coffee. It came in a tin, with a ring pull lid – all of which could be recycled easily at our kerbside. Although those sorts of tins are also great to hold onto for reuse.

As a child I grew up with a jar of bog standard coffee granules and there were about six different brands to choose from! But now coffee seems a culture of its own and as this blog on coffee culture around the world shows, consumers are demanding transparency. We want to know about the working conditions of coffee bean farmers, we want more sustainable options for disposable capsules and we even want vegan milks to enjoy our morning cuppa without a guilty conscience.

I always say that a zero waste lifestyle isn’t about deprivation, so here are some ways to enjoy more sustainable coffee:

  • Find a brand that uses zero waste packaging, such as compostable capsules, tins that can be recycled or reused, or a shop that sells beans loose in your own containers.
  • Only use enough water for the cup you are making, don’t waste this precious resource!
  • Support brands that promote fair trade
  • Use a vegan milk to reduce reliance on the dairy industry, or use organic cows milk
  • When getting takeaway coffee on the go, take your own reusable mug
  • Store ground coffee and beans in an airtight container and away from heat or light to preserve freshness
  • Compost your grounds and look for other ideas with our 11 ways to reuse old coffee grounds
  • And if you’re a connoisseur who has a broken coffee pot, be sure to check out our post on how to reuse a broken aluminium espresso pot too!

What about you? How do you make your coffee as zero waste as possible?

About the Author ()

I am a long time supporter of the Green and Sustainable lifestyle. After being caught in the Boscastle floods in 2004, our family begun a journey to respect and promote the importance of Earth's fragile ecosystem, that focussed on reducing waste. Inspired by the beauty and resourcefulness of this wonderful planet, I have published numerous magazine articles on green issues and the author of four books.

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  1. Kathleen says:

    I buy the beans in my own bag at my local health food store. As for the milk…that was the hardest thing to give up when I went vegan & I never found a satisfactory replacement. One day about 7 years ago I vowed to drink coffee black or give it up. I love my black coffee!
    Great to get your post in my email. Thank you!

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