How to Drink Coffee in an Environmentally Friendly Way

There are many little things you can do to become more environmentally responsible and make your life greener. Even something as simple as changing the way you drink your morning coffee can help save the environment.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• coffee maker
• thermal mug

1. Make your coffee at home. Driving to your local barista wastes gasoline. Going out for your coffee also generates waste in the form of cups, lids, holders, stirrers, and sugar packets. You can recycle your coffee's packaging.

2. Drink from a thermal mug. If you do go out for your coffee, bring a thermal mug and have your barista fill it for you. Most places are happy to do this for you and may even offer you a small discount for being environmentally responsible.

3. Purchase organic coffee. These coffee beans are grown with no pesticides which is better for the environment.

4. Purchase free-trade coffee. Free-trade coffee is made from coffee beans grown on plantations that use environmentally sustainable practices and pay a fair wage to owners and workers in developing countries.

5. Compost your used coffee grounds. Coffee grounds will add a natural source of nitrogen to your soil (which eliminates or reduces the need for artificial fertilizers), and they are good for keeping the worms in your soil happy.

Resources

• ehow Going Green Guide

[PhiMcRee]

on 4/8/2009 Interesting...never thought of coffee and environmentally friendly in the same context.

[cherry67]

on 4/8/2009 thanks!