How Can Coffee Shops Benefit from Going Green?

In recent years, concern for the environment has been increasing and more and more people are taking an interest in reducing their carbon footprint and leading a more eco-friendly life. Luckily, there is a greener, more sustainable alternative to almost everything, including coffee shops. So-called “green cafes” are increasingly popular worldwide, with many large coffee chains looking to jump on the bandwagon, including none other than Starbucks. If you are considering to green up your cafe as well, here are all the benefits you can expect.

Help the Environment

As it turns out, coffee shops using plastic and Styrofoam disposables are indirect polluters. It’s estimated that 500 billion disposable Styrofoam cups are produced annually. Since Styrofoam is non-degradable, most of these will be in landfills even 500 years from now. With global warming being an inescapable reality, it’s a moral imperative to find ways to be greener and produce less waste. The best way to do so is by replacing traditional packaging with eco-friendly, compostable disposables such as wooden coffee stirrers or paper coffee cups. You can also try motivating customers to bring in their own reusable mugs by offering a small discount.

Increase Your Customer Base

Competition is tough in the cafe business, and rising above the rest is important if you want to be successful. Just by making the switch to biodegradable disposables such as coffee stirrers, cups, and bags, you will start attracting more people. When individuals who care about the environment see you making an effort towards the green cause, they will want to support you. This, in turn, can expand your customer base and help your brand become more recognisable.

Lower Your Bills

Going green is not only eco-friendly, but it’s also friendly on the budget as well. Considering how many Australian cities like Sydney, enjoy 340 sunny days a year, it can be a really smart step to go solar. If for some way you’re not able or don’t want to install solar panels, using more energy-efficient appliances will translate into reduced electricity bills. Additionally, consider replacing any old incandescent light bulbs with LEDs which use 75% less energy and have a lifespan of up to 50 000 hours.

Boost the Growth of Decorative Plants

At the end of the day, there will be a load of used coffee grounds that you don’t have anything else to do with but throw away. So, why not put them to good use instead? It turns out that coffee grounds are very acidic, which makes them a great natural fertilizer for acid-hungry plants. The flower beds or potted plants outside your shop can look much healthier than ever before with the help of coffee ground fertilizer. If your business doesn’t have any plants, you can donate the used coffee grounds to a local gardening group.