# Coffee Plastic with the Environment: Are You Making a Difference?

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/06/coffee-plastic-with-the-environment-are-you-making-a-difference/
- Published: 2021-06-09T22:07:50-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

Are you an avid coffee with drinking person needing a KeepCup?  Are you knowing 
the plastic you put it in affects the environment? I mean talk about habits? Hey,
are you a lover with people feeling concerned. I mean that your consumption habits
are not the most environmentally friendly?

Well, you can rest assured that the fact that you are considering your coffee drinking
plus [plastic consumption habits](https://greenlivingguy.com/2024/09/cambio-roasters-sustainable-solutions-for-the-coffee-industry/)
is the first step.  So get a KeepCup (no money for that)! I mean, as well as reading
this. Yet again this means you are already a conscious consumer. Also, the rest 
of the work will just be small behavioral adjustments and adaptations.

Therefore, creating awareness around how our behavior as consumers affects the environment
can be a large feat. This is to reassure you that you are encouraged to continue
with your love of coffee [drinking](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/11/why-you-should-switch-to-organic-coffee-the-benefits-of-going-pesticide-free/).
However, there are various ways in which you can do it with more environmental consciousness.

Some of these tips and suggestion seem simple and obvious. However somehow as humans,
we often hesitate to implement simple changes out of fear of convenience. We are
also realizing that our impact on the environment is becoming more than just an 
inconvenient truth (pardon the pun) and so we need to actively look for ways to 
remedy it. Hopefully, this guide can be of some use to you on your journey to becoming
more eco-friendly.

[⌊Coffee drinking plastic⌉⌊Coffee drinking plastic⌉[

Image Source: [https://coffeegeek.tv/](https://coffeegeek.tv/)

## Eco-pods Are Possible

Many households have a [coffee](https://greenlivingguy.com/2024/09/cambio-roasters-sustainable-solutions-for-the-coffee-industry/)
maker of sorts, with a recent rise in the popularity of pod coffee machines. The
traditional style of pod made use of plastic and aluminum, which can take between
150 – 500 years to break down in a landfill. This does not mean your new [wedding](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/04/eco-friendly-wedding-ideas-reduce-your-wedding-waste/)
gift was a wasted purchase. More and more conscious coffee supply and apparatus 
companies, like [Black Ink Coffee Company](https://blackinkcoffee.com/), have devised
eco-friendly pod solutions that make use of recyclable materials instead of plastic.
Now you can feel better about saving money on takeout coffees and brewing at home,
as well as helping to save the planet in doing so.

## Re-use Your Coffee Grounds

If you make your coffee using a filter, french press, espresso machine, or drip,
you will likely have a lot of throw-away coffee grounds. While this is organic waste,
and not bad for the environment, there are savvy ways you can make use of this. 
Coffee grounds [are great fertilizers](https://serc.si.edu/plant-growth) as they
contain ingredients that are helpful for healthy plant growth. Another creative 
use for used coffee is to make your own body skin scrub. How about putting your 
old coffee grounds in a jar and storing them in the shower? Every few days you can
apply some to dry or acne-prone skin areas, just as you would a store-bought skin
exfoliator. [Buying a super-automatic espresso machine](https://www.brewcoffeehome.com/best-super-automatic-espresso-machine/)
can help you reduce coffee waste.

![ Plastic coffee drinking](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ev7WcTy2X_IADHrNXKnYfKuJvYkqAdN-
5saOljGeHrJmTkurLmH2BX9zG-udLuy7Y7-_hjTzgDNlcwtwYYYGGdsyGn84bwEPJYX4rH62DgLTHXCo6x5TM7GSRch9xsWMid29i1dJ)

## It Does Not Mean The End Of Takeaway Coffees

If you love the daily, weekly, or perhaps more sporadic ritual of getting a takeaway
cuppa joe, you are not alone. Coffee chains and independent stores around the world
thrive off people’s love of takeaway or sitting down in a charming cafe.

For there is something about the comforting smell and warmth as you step into your
favorite cafe. Or the cashier or barrister greets you by name, knows your order.
Because then suddenly, you have a skip in your step as you make your way to work.
That’s that steaming brew in hand.

However, one of the biggest impacts on our planet is the [use of single-use](https://www.nrdc.org/stories/single-use-plastics-101)
plastics. The first prize is to take your own reusable, takeaway coffee cup, flask,
or mug. There are plenty of options to choose from depending on your preferences.
[Ceramic](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/02/is-my-ceramic-mug-the-only-green-solution-to-coffee-drinking/),
[stainless steel](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/04/earth-day-plastic-free-prize-pack-by-houghton-mifflin-harcourt/),
[glass](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/12/sip-the-world-taste-the-difference-glassdharma-the-original-glass-straw-handmade-in-the-u-s-a/),
take your pick. Many cafes offer incentives if you bring your coffee containers 
such as a discount on your order or a complimentary treat. If helping the environment
is not motivation enough, let saving money be the reason you start bringing your
own cup.

You can also submit to your local coffee spot using plastic lids, by raising it 
with management or by asking for your coffee without the plastic lid. The same goes
for plastic spoons, stirrers, straws, and bags. Once cafe owners start noticing 
the trend in consumer behavior and feeling a sense of pressure. I mean then they
will likely upgrade the container options to more eco-friendly materials. Never 
feel that you don’t hold influence as a customer. Your voice and business matter
to the providers you support.

The same also goes for sit-down versus carry-out. Are you in a rush or can you rather
sit down and enjoy your coffee. Because saving one [single-use ](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/04/grand-isle-resort-spa-introduces-first-phase-of-do-no-harm-policy-eliminates-single-use-plastic/)
takeaway cup today? This simple practice will also encourage you to slow down in
your life, which is never a bad thing.

# Being a regular coffee drinker does not need to harm the environment

However, there are small ways in which we as consumers can improve our habits to
reduce our carbon footprint. Hopefully, this discussion has shed some light on the
simple adjustments we can build into our daily routine to be more eco-friendly in
our actions.

![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df91669667126e1290c21ee0342c386e2da19d588d4d9ca6560bd82ed59a9641?
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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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