April 2008 | On Our Radar
Love the Planet a Lattˇ
By Jessica Kraft
Independently-owned coffee shops have always brought caffeinated creatives together to change the world. Green Café Network founder Kirstin Henninger wanted to continue the café’s legacy as a “third space” for building community — focusing on environmental issues. Now, when you get your cup of joe at a Green Café Network coffee shop ( greencafenetwork.org ), you can enjoy a fair-trade brew in a compostable cup while supporting a local green business. Soon, you’ll be able to attend a host of green-related events there too, including art shows, discussion groups and lectures.
Henninger found that lots of café owners wanted to go green, but they just didn’t have the time, information or funds to do it. So the Network helps owners get the resources they need, including certification as a Bay Area Green Business, connections to local food producers, and direct coaching on sustainability issues. Their baristas receive free training on composting, carbon emissions and water use. And to reduce the cost of eco-friendly supplies, the member cafés team up to buy in bulk.
Through this greening process, the Network aims to spread its message to the millions of Americans who connect through their neighborhood cafés. With the support of the Earth Island Institute, Green Café Network has linked up nearly a dozen San Francisco coffee shops including Ritual Roasters, Mission Pie and Velo Rouge Café.
“What makes this network different from other business associations is that we are dedicated to public education,” said Henninger. “We want people to ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ about our critical need for a greener economy.”
— Jessica Kraft
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