In Ireland, our new found addiction to coffee has come at great cost to the beautiful island we call home. We are currently sending two million disposable cups to landfill each day and it is an issue that our burgeoning cafe industry has been slow to act on.
Yesterday, however, influential key-player Coffeeangel took a step in the right direction, launching their ‘Your Cup Our Future’ initiative in conjunction with Friends of the Earth. Under the scheme, 20¢ for every KeepCup used by their customers will be donated towards local environmental projects.
Caroline Sleiman, Director at Coffeeangel, commented:
“It is impossible to ignore the impact the human race is having on our environment, and whilst the challenges and changes required are immense, we wholeheartedly believe that through the power of small, personal initiatives we can help make a difference.”
Friends of the Earth, Ireland’s biggest environmental campaigning organisation, is part of the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, working in over 70 countries. Here, they are primarily focused on promoting clean energy and preventing dirty projects such as fracking. They recently led the push for Ireland’s first climate legislation.
Head of Communications, Dr Cara Augustenborg, welcomed yesterday’s announcement:
“ (It) is an innovative approach to a waste crisis within the coffee sector. They’re incentivising reuse and supporting our environmental campaigning in Ireland.”
In recent years there has been much misinformation about the possible solution of disposable “compostable” cups. These, in fact, require commercial composting to biodegrade and most end up in general landfill regardless.
Sustainability and the impact from global warming are issues that those in the coffee industry are all too familiar with, particularly when sourcing coffee beans from increasingly climate challenged coffee-growing regions.
You can purchase a KeepCup in Coffeeangel stores or via their website.
We are way ahead of ye in Clare. Check out http://www.Loveyourcup.org. the whole town of Ennistymon offers a 30cent discount if people bring any non disposeable cup. It doesn’t have to be a keep cup which are one of the most pricey brands of non disposable cups
Roisin – That’s very impressive (as is your website). And with Moyhill Community Farm down the road, Clare is looking like a truly progressive county! Keep up the good work. If we can help in any way to bring ‘Love Your Cup’ to the East Coast or spread the word, do let us know!