Sustainable Sips

WOW! Thanks for tuning in to Post #3 of On The Hunt ! We are so grateful and excited to hear that you are continuing to explore your caffeine-y side alongside us. 

Today's blog post is rather green. Now, not the green of your matcha, or tea leaves, or other caffeinated drink (that you hopefully should be drinking by Post #3!), but how to be greener when drinking – to be sustainable and a friend to Earth as well. We will break down this post into key digestible parts for you today; how the caffeine industry is currently unsustainable, what offerings are out there to improve, and how YOU can do your part to keep our Earth greener - one sip at a time!

1. The Problem: How Unsustainable is the Caffeine Industry?

It's hard to believe that something as simple as your morning coffee could have such a big impact, but the truth is, the caffeine industry has a significant environmental footprint. From water-intensive farming practices to large-scale deforestation for plantations, producing coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages comes at a cost. Not to mention, the carbon emissions from transportation and the waste from single-use cups and plastic packaging contribute even more to the problem. Think of all the Starbucks plastic cups currently floating around the ocean! So, while we're all sipping on our daily fix, it’s important to understand the environmental challenges behind the scenes and what we can do to change.

2. Solutions on the Horizon: What's Being Done to Improve?

Fortunately, the caffeine industry is waking up to the need for greener practices. Many companies are switching to more sustainable sourcing by supporting fair-trade coffee and tea, promoting organic farming methods, and using shade-grown crops to preserve forests. Shoutout:

• Balzac’s: Many of their coffees are Fairtrade Organic, and their disposable cups, straws and cutlery are made with biodegradable/recycled materials.

On the consumer end, reusable cups, compostable packaging, and even eco-friendly coffee pods are becoming more common. Some of our favs:

• Keurig has a system where you can trade/mail in all your used pods for free and they re-use the material to make new pods

• Starbucks has new cups on the market that feature 20% less plastic

• Local highlight: Starbucks, CoGro and Tea Room both offer discounts when you bring a reusable cup to put your drink in!

Brands are also focusing on reducing their carbon footprint by adopting renewable energy sources for processing plants and investing in cleaner transportation methods. These changes are small steps, but they can make a big difference!

3. Your Role: How You Can Sip Sustainably

Now, let's talk about what you can do! First, consider buying from brands that prioritize sustainability—look for fair trade or organic certifications. Another easy switch is to use a reusable cup or mug for your daily caffeine boost. Here are our favourites:

• Kat’s recommended (waterproof) reusable cups: 

  
  
  

  

  • Cold drink: Owala 24-oz FreeSip Water Bottle - $34

  • Hot drink: YETI Tumbler 591 ML with mag slider lid - $45

• Katrina’s recommended reusable cups: 

  
  
  

  
  
  

  • Cold drink: Lululemon Back to Life Sport Bottle 24oz with Straw Lid - $48

  • Hot drink: YETI Rambler 414 ML Stackable Mug with mag slider lid - $40

Look at you cutting down on single-use waste! Finally, think about composting your coffee grounds or tea leaves/bags—this is an easy step to avoid the carbon emissions from them rotting away in the garbage. By making these small, eco-friendly choices, you can enjoy your favourite caffeinated drinks knowing you're helping to keep the planet green, one sip at a time.

Stay green, stay amazing, and stay sustainable! Send in your own sustainable tips to our IG @onthehunt_blog, and we would love to feature them in our next story.

Thanks for your continuous support,

Xoxo, Katrina and Kat