Zero-waste heroes
Midlands-based coffee wholesaler, Jute, says it has become the UK's first 'zero-waste' coffee supplier by providing its coffee beans to bars, cafes and restaurants in reusable tubs. Frustrated with the number of coffee bags being thrown away, the company decided to start using resusable plastic tubs that are designed to last for 25 years, and are fully recyclable.
Once Jute's coffee beans are roasted by hand and rested for 24 hours, they are then transferred into reusable tubs, which are delivered to baristas who add the beans to the hopper, and keep the tubs safe until they are sent back to Jute. At the end of their life, the containers can be recycled.
Jute uses ethically sourced coffee from small cooperatives in Ethiopia, Honduras, Brazil and Colombia. The company also sponsors a beehive for every 500kg of coffee sold.