Your best climate-friendly day ever
Scores of studies suggest that your morning cup is a healthy part of your day. But depending on how you make or buy your coffee, your wakeful buzz could be harming the planet. You likely already know that pricey, single-use coffee pods inflict havoc on the environment. According to advocacy group Kill The K-Cup, in 2014 enough coffee pods were sold that if placed end-to-end, they would circle the planet ten and a half times—bad news considering most of these cups are made with a filter, coffee grounds and a plastic foil top, making it next to impossible to recycle the pod or compost the coffee grounds. Most end up in landfills. If you make coffee at home, try using the pour-over method, which allows you to customize the exact amount of coffee you desire. Opt for a model that comes with an included, reusable filter so you don’t have paper waste.
Try: Coffee Gator Pour Over Coffee Maker
The coffee you choose matters, too. Most coffee is grown in economically challenged regions, such as Guatemala, Ethiopia, Colombia and Indonesia, to name a few. Try to select coffee that is fair-trade certified to ensure farmers received a reasonable market price for their beans, and prioritize beans that feature a USDA Organic seal or Rainforest Alliance certification, which values biodiversity in coffee plantations.
Buying coffee to go?
Take along a stainless-steel coffee thermos to avoid waste from single-use cups and lids.