We all work in different places. The places we work-- no matter if
it is a small or large business --are always watching the bottom line. It
occurred to me this morning while enjoying a cup of coffee this
morning before heading into the office I am sitting in one of the most
sustainable (financial, social, and ecological) business models today.
LemonJellos is a small coffee shop in downtown Holland, but it
could be any coffee shop USA. The store is located in an old Sinclair gas
station. Being recycled from an old gas station fits right into their business
model and the vision of Matthew Scott (the owner). He decided a long time ago
that he wanted to produce a great quality product at a great price. He took the
stance that he and his business would always do the right thing.
What he wanted was a sustainable shop with little waste, so
he diligently researched different ways to handle the waste from his shop. He
started with the typical waste haulers, but they were expensive and did not
offer other services such as composting. Then he implemented a multi-prong
approach to his businesses waste.
Bottom line:
If this shop was charged $200 a month to empty a two yard dumpster.
This coffee shop does not pay this for waste management. With this savings that would be an annual
savings of $2400 not including the energy savings. This is a lot of extra
coffee you can buy and sell. LemonJellos takes that money turns it into
marketing or even into buying more coffee they increase their bottom line. My
point is if you do the right things as individuals and businesses you will help
not only the planet but our pocket books as well. As you read this blog, think
about this way of thinking and how you can impact your place of
employment.
Recycling with a homeless shelter: Mathew Scott Chose a unique way to
recycle. In the town of Holland there is a recycling center that is run and
operated by a homeless shelter. Partnering with the New Life Recycling center
( http://www.hollandrescue.org/recycling/recycling ) offered
Matt not only the means to recycle everything that a large recycling
center offered, but it also offered him a way to help the community..
Composting with a non-profit farm:
A coffee shop produces a major amount of compostable waste.
LemonJellos is no different; in fact it produces more than the average because
of its internal bakery. That's right; they produce their own baked good
including gluten free baked goods. All the shop’s waste goes to a not for
profit CSA farm called Eight Day Farm ( http://www.eighthdayfarm.com/ ).
All that coffee and bakery waste is taken for free and used in
the compost process to fertilize the farm. The idea of using a local farm
to compost waste is ingenuous. FYI ,this is a farm that also turned a parking
lot into a farm at an old shopping center but that is for another blog.
Using reusable /bio based materials:
Within the coffee shop you use re-usable cups, plates, and
silverware. Mathew made the decision that Lemonjello’s would utilize reusable
cups, plates, and silverware Almost everything else is compostable. Even the
container my granola came in was a bio-plastic compostable container. When
using the rest rooms even the waste bins say where to place the paper wash
towels because they will be composted. The towels are compost through a
different process other than the farm but are still composted.
Managing the waste as a marketing tool:
There are no waste bins anywhere within the coffee shop. All the
dishes and waste go into the same container and are sorted by the employees.
Near these containers there are signs stating “this is a zero waste shop” or “recycle
or else” (I love this sign). Because the employees sort the material, there is very
little contamination in the compost or recycling material.
Energy use:
Energy use:
Compact florescent and LED bulbs are used throughout the shop. One
very cool energy saving device is a timer light switch in the restroom. This
gives you plenty of time to do your business and then shuts the lights out
after you leave.
Issues:
This shop is not perfect; they their have issues as well. They
have these waxy milk-like cartons that they cannot be composted or recycled, so
they are forced to throw these
things away. The difference is they are constantly trying to find a new carton
to receive this material and are pushing on their suppliers to help reduce this
waste. Along with pushing the suppliers, they are constantly looking for new
ways to recycle responsibly.
Lemonjellos cares about their customers, the planet, and their
community and they show it through actions not
just words. Maybe we can influence our places of work to think more this
way.
Do the right thing always and the rest will always take care of itself!
Average Joe Green on Facebook
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