Green Bean

Sustainability

We are passionate about environmental sustainability and dedicated to being "green." We strive to raise awareness about social and environmental practices.

The Green Bean has made great strides to using fully sustainable resources in all of its products and packaging. Not all of these changes have been obvious, but they are making an impact by helping to keep our environment clean. Below are just some of the things that the Green Bean has been working on implementing. If you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to email the Green Bean!

How we are doing our part

Composting

We have been making an effort to purchase only 100% post-consumer recycled paper products and compostable materials. Currently, everything at the condiment counter is compostable: Straw wrappers, forks, lids, cups, pastry bags and plates, and napkins. All food and paper products may be composted, but please keep in mind that the plastic marketplace containers cannot be. In fact, those must be thrown away. The Green Bean has three convenient, easy-to-access composting bins in the lobby. They are easy to spot – look for the large green bins!

  • All of our cups, plates, napkins, and utensils are compostable. Look around the shop for tip on what you can compost!

More environmentally friendly products

We've worked to find not only tasty products for you, but also products that fit with our values.

  • We now offer Jones Soda, Stewarts Sodas, and Steaz Energy drink!

Better packaging from suppliers

We've been working with our product suppliers and requesting that they change the packaging they send us. All of the coffee and espresso that we order now comes in recyclable packaging! We are hoping to eventually cut down on all non-recycled or composted packaging.

Ways of Going "Green" at the Green Bean

  • Bring in your own mug and receive a 20 cent discount!
  • Fill your reusable water bottles from our filtered tap at the condiment bar
  • Recycle bottles and cans purchased from us
  • Compost plates, bags, and cups used for drinks and pastries
  • Make your fliers 1/4 of a page to save paper

 

Sustainable Product Highlight for October: Sencha Naturals

 

The Green Bean is proud to offer Sencha Naturals green tea mints, a small, socially-responsible, local Los Angeles company founded by David Kerdoon in 2001. Sencha Naturals uses fair trade estates for the farming of green tea. Their website explains how each estate is “committed to providing compensatory wages, clean living conditions, and wellness services…in addition, none will employ child laborers.” Not only do the mints come in a variety of tasty flavors, but they provide health benefits as well! Three mints contain the antioxidant power of one cup of green tea, which can protect against heart disease, build a strong immune system, and improve mental focus, among other benefits for your body. Their mints are 100% natural, vegan, kosher, gluten free, sugar free, and caffeine free.  

For more information on Sencha Naturals, their fair trade estates, ingredients, and more, visit http://www.senchanaturals.com/

Sustainable Product Highlight: Jones Soda – “Keeping it Real”

Jones Soda company has an excellent sustainability initiative focused on keeping communities around the globe green. They use recycled materials, reduce shipping and travel to limit their carbon footprint (they have even started to ship things via rail rather than trucks!), and they are working to increase the percentage of post-consumer recycled cardboard products used in their packaging. Due to these initiatives, they have already reduced their total truck travel miles by 1,000,000 annually! On a more personal note, Jones soda frequently supports their home community in Seattle through charitable food and clothing drives, encourages and maintains and exceptional work environment, and implements sustainable habits at work such as composting and offering bike storage for employees. For more information, check out their website at www.jonessoda.com!