How to turn your daily brew green
By Lottie Dalziel
Aussies are coffee feens, slurping down at least six billion cups of coffee each year.
From one of our previous articles, we're armed with the fact that our daily dose of caffeine isn't helping the planet.
Not only are single-use coffee cups a problem but the coffee grinds that end up in landfill create potent greenhouse gases, and not to mention the three million single-use pods Australians use, every day.
And now before you throw your cuppa down the drain, (because we know that isn't an option) there are a couple of ways that you can turn your brew green.
1. Say no to single-use. In 2017, we used 1 billion single-use coffee cups. Whilst they look like paper, 99.9% of cups on the market cannot be recycled. Switch to a reusable option and help us slash this number.
2. Quit pods. I'm not going to lie, pods are a simple and cost-effective coffee solution. Whilst you can send back your Nespresso pods to the source, with many cafes around Aus bringing out their own pod range this sadly isn't the case. Using a refillable pod is a great way to support local businesses and save the planet.
3. Daily grind. Most of your leftover coffee grounds end up in landfill where it (as well as all other organic matter) produces potent methane gas. Pop your used grinds in the compost or make it into your very own coffee scrub like this one. It is a natural exfoliant and will help your skin feel AH-mazing.
4. Attn: Sydney-siders. Sydney roaster, Seven Miles are not only committed to roasting the best but being the best in sustainability. Seven Miles has partnered with Terracycle on Australia's first recycling program, the program allows consumers to recycle used coffee bags and coffee pods free of charge.
5. Milky way. When choosing what milk to add to your coffee the options are endless. The most sustainable option is none at all, followed by alternative plant-based milks. Yes, nut milks use large quantities of water, their footprint is still lighter than dairy milks.