Coffee shops and cafes contribute a lot to waste problems. Some brands still stick to the nonrecyclable cups when they could use a compostable one. Food that could get recycled gets thrown away. Meanwhile, non-biodegradable items get trashed instead of reusing. 

Going green is a necessity for businesses, but also crucial for positive branding. Restaurants that focus on sustainability help to reduce waste and conserve the environment. By going green, your business can improve its public image, attract eco-conscious customers and cut cost. 

It’s time your business goes green. But how you can reduce waste in your coffee shop? Read on for tips on how you can reduce your environmental impact and keep the planet clean. 

Go Compostable

Compostable coffee cups and food contribute the most to the restaurant’s waste. Every morning and evening, each customer uses a different coffee cup. Globally, coffee cups usage sums to 16 billion per year. Now, imagine the impact of all these cups were non-biodegradable!

Converting to biodegradable & compostable paper cups, could not be easier
Recycling and waste management

Foam cups are harmful, while PE coated cups are not the best option for recycling. Recyclable or Compostable coffee cups are the way to go if you’re serious about a clean planet. 

Compostable coffee cups comprise paper and a corn starch/plant-based coating. These are materials that can compost in industrial composting facilities. Compostable coffee cups are also recyclable. And that makes them the best companion for a green coffee shop.

Automate to Reduce Waste

Automation has already affected many functions of restaurants. Food Apps can help cafes increase efficiency in bookings and maximize productivity. Many people want to check real-time availability before checking in for the coffee.

For businesses, the systems help to reduce call costs and the energy spent per employee in confirming orders. During peak hours, systems can handle capacity issues and minimize overbooking and under booking. 

If your transactions are paper-based, it’s critical to automate. You can install paper less transactional systems rather than handling orders manually. For instance, POS systems can digitize order taking and cut out paper waste. 

POS can help keep track of reorder levels and inventory for better stock planning. That way, you can cut overordering and reduce waste. 

Compost the Compostable Waste

Most coffee shops waste ends up as trash. Composting reduces the pressure on landfills by turning the waste into garden manure. Compost manure is free from chemicals thus safe for marine life and the water bodies. 

Without chemicals in the manure, the food we consume becomes safer and sound for our health. Compost manure also has higher yield potential, unlike the synthetic fertilizers.

Composting can present many economic benefits to your business. You can reduce trash pickups in your business and save a few pounds from your waste collection bill. In your garden, you can cut fertiliser costs and enjoy organic produce. 

What can you compost? Check out the list below!

  • Paper napkins
  • Compostable paper cups
  • Vegetable and fruit waste
  • Cardboards and all paper waste
  • Coffee grounds, newspapers, wood ash and yard clippings 

If you cannot compost in your garden, check around. Most cities offer composting facilities for free. You can also pay for composting services or donate your bio-waste to a local farm. 

Reduce and Reuse

There are many ways you can nurture the spirit of reduce and reuse in your coffee shop. Number one is to check the packaging of received orders. Focus on the suppliers that use less packaging material and are conscious of saving raw materials. That way, you can reduce packaging waste and keep the environment clean.

You can also buy in bulk or from a supplier with storage services. By buying in bulk, you can save packaging materials, cut ordering costs and save resources. Also, make sure the hardware you buy for a coffee shop is durable. 

Frequent replacements increase waste problems and add to your capital costs. Repairing instead of replacing appliances and equipment can also help to preserve resources. 

Power Backup for Perishables’ Safety

Stored perishable food is under the mercies of electricity. In case of a power outage, you can face a lot of stock losses. Yet, you can save yourself the stress of power problems, by investing in power back up. For instance, with a generator, you can keep refrigerators running all the time and avoid perishables from going bad.

Tools like a Bluetooth sensor can also help you keep track of your refrigerator’s status. On-time updates can enable you to reach out for technicians fast and protect your food all the time.

Minimise Leftover Food Waste

In the UK alone, businesses throw away 2.9 million tones of food every year. Restaurants can minimise the amount of food waste and save part of the $ 5.2 billion in earnings.

Both restaurant owners and consumers contribute to food waste. Sometimes you throw away bad food. Customers can also leave some food on their plates after every meal.

You can offer take away services for the leftover food. Or include lighter meal options to cater to the needs of all customers. For the food that may go bad, why not donate it or give it out to your employees?

Mark Recycling Bins Well

63% of customers get confused about what they can recycle and the variations in dustbins. Products like paper cups, plastic wrapping, and phone cases cause the most confusion.

Most paper cup waste never gets recycled when it ends in high street bins. That waters down many efforts to increase recycling rates or compost waste.

But you can make life easier for your customers by helping them out with the recycling. Besides educating them on the value of sustainability, make sure you mark out dust bins well. That way, you can reduce the disposal confusion and improve waste management.

Order Paper Products from Eco-Friendly Companies

Buying paper cups can be confusing. There are too many paper cup terminologies you can come across when ordering. When you find a compostable paper cup supplier, you can smoothen the ordering process and be sure of sustainable coffee cups. Get a free quote or contact us for compostable paper cups!