Ways to Make Your Coffee Habit More Sustainable

Coffee is a daily ritual for millions of people worldwide, but have you ever considered the environmental impact of your morning brew? From production to packaging, coffee consumption leaves a footprint. The good news is that small changes can make a big difference.

Sustainability is a necessity with growing concerns around climate change and our impact on our planet. The coffee industry, responsible for 60 million bags of coffee produced annually (International Coffee Organisation, 2023), faces challenges like deforestation, carbon emissions, and waste pollution. Stokes works incredibly hard to ensure it operates in the most environmentally friendly way possible to lower its impact on the environment. 

With conscious choices, you can enjoy your coffee guilt-free while contributing to a greener planet. Here are five impactful yet simple ways to make your coffee habit more sustainable, backed by research

1. Choose Ethically Sourced Coffee

Not all coffee is created equal. While coffee production supports over 125 million people globally (Fairtrade Foundation, 2023), many farmers face exploitation due to unfair wages and unsustainable farming practices.

Sustainable coffee is grown using eco-friendly farming methods, which ensure fair wages for farmers and protect biodiversity. Look for certifications that indicate ethical sourcing, such as Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and Organic. 

Over 70% of the world’s coffee is grown by smallholder farmers who often earn less than $2 per day (World Economic Forum, 2023). Choosing ethically sourced coffee such as Stokes ensures fair wages and sustainable farming practices.

2. Use a Reusable Coffee Cup

Disposable coffee cups are a huge environmental issue, with the UK alone using 2.5 billion takeaway cups annually (Hubbub, 2023). Worse still, less than 1% of these cups are recycled due to plastic linings that make them difficult to process.

At Stokes, we promote the use of Huskee cups the ultimate reusable coffee cup. It's made from coffee husk, a by-product of coffee roasting. Bring it to your nearest HuskeeSwap Café in Lincoln that’s Stokes To Go, drop it off, and get your coffee in a fresh cup. Available in 8oz or 12oz, our eco-friendly cups repurpose waste material and keep your coffee hot for longer. They are comfortable to hold, cool to touch, and easy to clean as they’re dishwasher-friendly. 

Why You Should Make the Switch:

• Disposable cups take 20–30 years to decompose in landfills.

• A reusable cup used daily can save up to 300 cups per year (Friends of the Earth, 2023).

• Many coffee shops (including Stokes Coffee) offer discounts for bringing your own cup.

3. Brew Smarter at Home

Your brewing method can significantly impact the environment. Some coffee-making processes generate more waste and consume more energy than others.

Sustainable Brewing Methods Ranked

Best: French Press, AeroPress, Pour-Over (Minimal Waste, No Filters)
Good: Moka Pot, Espresso Machine (Higher Energy Use, Reusable Materials)
Worst: Single-Use Coffee Pods (Massive Plastic Waste)

The Problem with Coffee Pods

• The UK alone disposes of over 39,000 coffee pods every minute (Guardian, 2023).

• Plastic and aluminium pods please DELETE  aluminium pods  take up to 500 years to decompose in landfills.

• Only 30% of coffee pod brands offer proper recycling options (Which? Magazine, 2023).

Switch to Sustainable Coffee Pods

If you can’t part with the convenience of coffee pods, our Impresso Coffee Pods are made from aluminium, which is infinitely recyclable.

4. Repurpose Coffee Grounds Instead of Wasting Them

Every year, 500,000 tonnes of coffee grounds end up in landfills in the UK alone (Waste and Resources Action Programme, 2023). Instead of tossing them out, repurposing coffee grounds can reduce waste and provide eco-friendly benefits.

Reusing coffee grounds reduces methane emissions from landfills. Methane is 25 times more harmful than CO₂ as a greenhouse gas (Environmental Protection Agency, 2023).

Making Your Coffee Habit More Sustainable

By making small, conscious changes to how you buy, brew, and consume coffee, you can do your bit for the planet while still enjoying your daily cup. Remember to buy ethically sourced coffee from local independent businesses and visit cafes that serve it, ditch the disposable cup in favour of a Huskee cup, choose low-waste brewing methods when you’re at home and reuse coffee grounds. 

If you follow these tips on how to make your coffee habit more sustainable, you can start sipping guilt-free. We guarantee your coffee will taste even better! Sustainability isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. Even small steps can create a big impact over time. For more information, call a member of our team on 01522 523 548.