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Sustainability

Researchers dumped coffee waste into a forest and couldn't believe what it looked like 2 years later

We used to throw away 10 million tons of coffee pulp every year. These researchers may have found a better use for it.

British Ecological Society

Spreading coffee pulp over barren land lead to rapid forest growth.

Coffee, believe it or not, seems to be an ever-expanding market. The hot or cold, caf or decaf beverage gets more and more popular every year. That's in part due to the fact that people are drinking coffee younger and younger. Surely, you've seen the 10-year-olds ordering oatmilk shaken espressos out in the wild, and the high-schoolers starting each day with a hot cup of joe.

It's great news for Starbucks and Folgers, but maybe not such great news for the environment. Because one of the biggest problems with coffee production is that it generates an incredible amount of waste. Once coffee beans are separated from cherries, about 45% of the entire biomass is discarded. So for every pound of roasted coffee we enjoy, an equivalent amount of coffee pulp is discarded into massive landfills across the globe.

That means that approximately 10 million tons of coffee pulp is discarded into the environment every year. When disposed of improperly, the waste can cause serious damage soil and water sources.

However, a new study published in the British Ecological Society journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence has found that coffee pulp isn't just a nuisance to be discarded.

It can have an incredibly positive impact on regrowing deforested areas of the planet, of which there are also increasingly many.

coffee, environment, environmentalism, global warming, climate change, innovation, science, planet, earthA layer of coffee pulp three feet thick was applied. via British Ecological Society

In 2018, researchers from ETH-Zurich and the University of Hawaii spread 30 dump trucks worth of coffee pulp over a roughly 100' x 130' area of degraded land in Costa Rica. Remember, coffee pulp is made from the discarded bits of coffee cherries, not from used grounds. The experiment took place on a former coffee farm that underwent rapid deforestation in the 1950s.

The coffee pulp was spread three-feet thick over the entire area.

Another plot of land near the coffee pulp dump was left alone to act as a control for the experiment.

"The results were dramatic." Dr. Rebecca Cole, lead author of the study, said. "The area treated with a thick layer of coffee pulp turned into a small forest in only two years while the control plot remained dominated by non-native pasture grasses."

In just two years, the area treated with coffee pulp had an 80% canopy cover, compared to just 20% of the control area. So, the coffee-pulp-treated area grew four times more rapidly. Like a jolt of caffeine, it reinvigorated biological activity in the area.

The canopy was also four times taller than that of the control.

coffee, environment, environmentalism, global warming, climate change, innovation, science, planet, earthThe forest experienced a radical, positive change via British Ecological Society

The coffee-treated area also eliminated an invasive species of grass that took over the land and prevented forest succession. Its elimination allowed for other native species to take over and recolonize the area.

The coffee pulp did two things. First, it suppressed invasive grasses so that native growth could flourish. And second, it greatly elevated the nutrients in the soil, boosting phosphorous, carbon, and nitrogen levels – all key elements for rapid new growth.

"This case study suggests that agricultural by-products can be used to speed up forest recovery on degraded tropical lands. In situations where processing these by-products incurs a cost to agricultural industries, using them for restoration to meet global reforestation objectives can represent a 'win-win' scenario," Dr. Cole said.

If the results are repeatable it's a win-win for coffee drinkers and the environment.

coffee, environment, environmentalism, global warming, climate change, innovation, science, planet, earthWe can't outpace deforestation, but innovations like this can help dramatically. Photo by Miha Rekar on Unsplash

Researchers believe that coffee treatments can be a cost-effective way to reforest degraded land. They may also work to reverse the effects of climate change by supporting the growth of forests across the globe. With a staggering 10 million hectares of land deforested globally every year (a hectare is an area of 10,000 square meters, just imagine 10 million of those) it's an urgent issue that could decide the fate of our entire planet.

The 2016 Paris Agreement made reforestation an important part of the fight against climate change. The agreement incentivizes developing countries to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, promote forest conservation and sustainable management, and enhance forest carbon stocks in developing countries.

coffee, environment, environmentalism, global warming, climate change, innovation, science, planet, earthWith coffee consumption on the rise, the findings are more important than ever. Photo by Mike Kenneally on Unsplash

"We hope our study is a jumping off point for other researchers and industries to take a look at how they might make their production more efficient by creating links to the global restoration movement," Dr. Cole said.

This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated.

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Health

This company makes it easier than ever to enjoy guilt-free fairly traded coffee

Thanks to Lifeboost, good coffee can be good for everyone.

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Lifeboost coffee

Americans love coffee. Like, we really, seriously, truly love it. According to one recent survey, 75 percent of U.S. adults drink coffee at least occasionally, while 53 percent—about 110 million people—drink it every single day. For some, coffee is an essential part of their morning ritual. For others, it’s something they enjoy when they hit the proverbial wall in the late afternoon. But either way, millions of people use coffee to boost energy, focus, and productivity.


Unfortunately, like most good things in life, coffee can have a downside. For example, most mass-marketed coffee is pretty terrible for the environment and the local farming communities that produce it. Most mass-marketed coffee also has a negative impact on your physical health. And half the time, it doesn’t even taste that good.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Coffee can be better. And over the last few years, progressive companies like Lifeboost Coffee have been working hard to transform the coffee industry, making better-tasting coffee that’s good for the planet and the people who drink it.

If you’re a coffee lover looking for a healthier, more sustainable way to get your fix, then you need to keep reading.

Why Better Coffee Matters

People love coffee because it tastes good and wards off drowsiness. But most coffee is also pretty acidic. And over time, this acidity can take a toll on your health, aggravating conditions like acid reflux, gastric ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome, and causing dental problems such as enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity.

But as bad as some coffee can be for you, it can be even worse for the environment and the people who grow it. Mass-produced coffee wastes tons of fresh water, creates tons of pollution, and destroys untold acres of the planet’s most densely populated rainforest ecosystems. On top of all that, the people who grow the beans don’t get paid very well, which causes poverty and other numerous social problems in coffee-growing communities around the world.

Want to do your part to make the coffee industry better? Then consider getting your coffee from companies like Lifeboost Coffee, which was specifically founded to create a delicious coffee that is good for everybody—good for you, good for the planet, and good for the people who produce it.

Say Hello To Lifeboost

Lifeboost Coffee only uses beans that are certified USDA organic, non-GMO, and third-party tested for harmful fungi and over 400 other toxins. They also use a roasting process that produces low-acid coffee that’s easier on your teeth and stomach. And because beans are only harvested when fully mature, Lifeboost coffee always contains maximum amounts of beneficial minerals and antioxidants.

On the environmental side, Lifeboost Coffee only uses shade-grown beans produced by single-origin farms that use sustainable farming practices. The company also donates a percentage of its profits to protect the ecosystems, habitats, and wildlife in their coffee regions. Meanwhile, on the human side, all Lifeboost coffees are certified fairly traded. That means the farmers who produce the beans get fair wages so they can support their families and build stronger communities.

Subscribe And Save

Whether you’re looking for ground or whole bean, light roast or dark roast, flavored or unflavored, regular or decaf, Lifeboost Coffee has a wide variety of delicious coffee. And while you can save money by buying more than one bag at a time, you can save even more with a coffee subscription.

Worried you won’t actually use all the coffee you get when you subscribe? Don’t be. With a Lifeboost subscription, you can choose how much coffee you get and how often you get it. So whether you want six bags every two weeks or two bags every six weeks, with a Lifeboost subscription, you get precisely the amount of coffee you want. And can cancel or tweak your subscription anytime, no questions asked.

If you’re looking for small things you can do to make the world a better place, drinking healthier, more sustainable coffee is a good place to start. And right now, nobody makes healthy, sustainable coffee better than Lifeboost. So click here and up your coffee game today.


Upworthy may earn a commission from sales of this product.

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Science

Enjoy the world’s best specialty coffees without the guilt

Image via Trade

https://tradecoffee.pxf.io/Yg0B7P

They say that even a bad cup of coffee is better than no coffee at all. And maybe that’s true. But we do not recommend testing this theory for yourself. Life is too short for bad coffee, especially when coffee subscription services make it easy to enjoy great coffee every day.

Want to take your coffee game to the next level? The best coffee subscriptions offer a wide selection of premium coffees, fast shipping, expert recommendations, customizable options, and easy cancellation or hold options.


Of course, there are a few different services that meet these criteria. But our favorite—and one you’ll find on just about every “best of” list out there—is Trade.


Image via Trade


Whether you’re new to specialty coffee or you’re a certified coffee nerd who enjoys cupping in your spare time, Trade has everything you could possibly want. Their team of experienced coffee industry experts tasted and handpicked a selection of over 450 different coffees, with every flavor profile imaginable, from 52 of the best artisanal roasters in the country.

If you already know what kind of coffee you’re into, you can use Trade’s plethora of filter options to create a customized subscription right from the get-go. However, if you want a little help from the pros, Trade has a really cool coffee quiz to help you get started. This quiz will ask you how you make your coffee, how you take it, what types of flavors and roasts you enjoy, and a few other pertinent questions. Then Taste will run your answers through its database to generate personalized coffee recommendations.

Once you’ve got your first recommendation and are ready to go, all you have to do is choose your shipment frequency, grind setting, and how many bags you’d like to receive. And that’s it. Unlike the stale stuff you buy at the grocery store, Trade won’t roast your coffee until you confirm your order, and it’s always promptly delivered to ensure optimal freshness.

Making A Difference One Cup At A Time

Image via Trade

The best part about Trade is that they don’t just sell amazing coffee. They also have an unrivaled commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.

Trade only partners with small-batch roasters who are willing to take their “Roaster Pledge,” which prioritizes seasonality, quality control, variety, sustainability, and equity. When you buy your coffee from Trade, you are making a choice to support human connections over profits. You’re not supporting giant corporations, but small farms and businesses owned by and employ real people.

The impact of this choice is significant. In 2021 alone, Trade helped create or sustain over 100 local jobs, while their decision to switch to compostable shipping materials saved 85 tons of waste. On top of all that, Trade’s wide selection of fair trade, organic, and rainforest alliance coffees is helping the coffee industry become more sustainable.


At Trade, they’re on a mission to turn coffee drinkers into coffee lovers while also doing their part to make the world a better place. If that sounds like something you’d be into, click here to start your Trade coffee subscription today.
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Wellness

A Starbucks barista's reaction to a customer's anti-mask, anti-BLM rant was perfection

Eight months into the pandemic, you'd think people would have the basics figured out. Sure, there was some confusion in the beginning as to whether or not masks were going to help, but that was months ago (which might as well be years in pandemic time). Plenty of studies have shown that face masks are an effective way to limit the spread of the virus and public health officials say universal masking is one of the keys to being able to safely resume some normal activities.

Normal activities include things like getting a coffee at Starbucks, but a viral video of a barista's encounter with an anti-masker shows why the U.S. will likely be living in the worst of both worlds—massive spread and economic woe—for the foreseeable future.

Alex Beckom works at a Starbucks in Santee, California and shared a video taken after a woman pulled down her "Trump 2020" mask to ask the 19-year-old barista a question, pulled it back up when the barista asked her to, then pulled it down again.

All Beckom did was inform the woman that she needed to keep her mask on, and the scene turned into the woman throwing a fit. She claimed that she didn't have to listen to the barista because "this is America." She said the virus (or the pandemic, or the mask order—it's not clear) is "a hoax." And she berated Black Lives Matter, which had nothing whatsoever to do with the exchange, other than Beckom existing in front of her in her Black skin.

Beckom remained completely professional and friendly throughout the bizarre interchange, even after the woman accused her of discriminating against her for being a Trump supporter, and even after the woman said "F*ck Black Lives Matter," and then yelled the same thing again as she left the store.

"If she thinks she's being discriminated against, that's on her," Beckom told 10 News, San Diego's ABC affiliate. "I never brought up anything about her politics ... I wasn't even angry. I was just like, 'Why is this happening?'"

Beckom had every right to ask the woman to keep her mask on, both due to company policy and the state of California mandate. And no one would blame Beckom if she'd had a more emotional or forceful response considering this woman's rude and inappropriate behavior, but the contrast of her calm reaction beautifully highlighted how off-the-rails the woman's own response was.

The video has had more than 4 million views since Beckom shared it on Sunday, and people have praised the dignity and grace with which the barista handled the situation.

"I think it's important to show this type of behavior shouldn't be normalized and shouldn't be acceptable ..." Beckom told 10 News. "As this behavior continues, the cycle continues, and we need to get this cycle to stop."

Indeed, we do need to get this cycle to stop. People like this woman are partially why the U.S. is in the dismal state that we're in with the coronavirus pandemic. Calling it a hoax, refusing to keep her mask on, berating a lovely young woman who is just doing her job—these kinds of videos are so old, but so indicative of where we are.

But Beckom's response is also an indicator that there is hope to be had in all of this madness. To have such presence of mind and maturity at 19 years old is impressive, and the more we see people doing the right thing, the better. Beckom represents the millions of Americans who work with the public and have to put up with people's nonsense. It's heartening to see someone so young handling it so well.

Keep up the great work, Alex. (And hey Starbucks, maybe give that woman a raise. In the meantime, here's a GoFundMe if you want to give her a tip for her excellent customer service.)

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