We see A Cup of Common Wealth as something bigger than just another place to get a caffeine fix — we aren’t looking to be Tambourine Men. We’re looking to provide for everyone what draws us to the industry – the community, the culture, and incredible cups of carefully crafted coffee.
Coffee flows through our lifeblood. Hot cups of coffee have served as both teachers and friends over the years, but more importantly, they have provided a venue to create and cultivate our lives’ most meaningful relationships. Whether it’s been in cupping rooms, origin trips, Tuesday night Redeyes, esoteric coffee shops, big cities, little towns, or in a mass barista training, the sense of community has always been present and powerful.
That is what A Cup of Common Wealth is designed to provide: a place to celebrate each other. A place to share smiles and stories, conversations and banter, to make new friends and reconnect with old ones…all facilitated by fine, artisan mugs of coffee.
The same sense of community we find in coffee is what makes the Bluegrass State a true home. To celebrate Kentucky is to celebrate community.
Current Sustainable Practices
Below are the initiatives A Cup of Common Wealth has completed on the Green Check scorecard.
Sustainability Management and Green Team
- Designated a Green Team responsible for managing sustainability initiatives.
- Holds quarterly Green Team meetings.
- Provides time for quarterly updates from Sustainability Coordinator in management meetings.
Awareness, Education, and Outreach
- Includes sustainability tips in a monthly newsletter.
- Includes a sustainability statement and training in all new hire materials.
- Provides volunteers for community environmental projects annually.
- Hosted an environmental event at A Cup of Common Wealth.
Energy Efficiency
- Established a power-down policy and checklist that includes items such as shutting off lights at night.
- Established a regular filter maintenance policy for your HVAC system.
- Has the HVAC system evaluated every 2 years by a certified service provider.
- Established a dress code that encourages employees to dress for thermal comfort.
- Installed power strips for computers and equipment to power down during non-business hours.
- Installed energy efficient (i.e. Energy Star) rated windows in all conditioned spaces.
- Insulated roof to control energy loss.
- Installed efficiency-rated HVAC of minimum standard SEER rating of 14.0.
- Assessed building envelope and address any leaks.
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Implemented a basic recycling program.
- Provides clearly marked recycling bins at work stations and/or in common areas. Recycling bins ares paired with a waste bin.
- Trains and requires staff responsible for cleaning to segregate waste and recyclable materials.
- Uses reusable mugs and dishware instead of disposable plates, cups, and utensils.
- Established a policy for environmentally friendly printing such as two sided printing, reusing copy paper, and electronic document sharing.
- Replaced at least 50% of paper stock with post-consumer recycled paper.
- Developed a composting program.
- Participated in a zero-waste event.
Water Conservation
- Installed water efficient toilets in all of the restrooms.
Water Quality
- Established a policy for proper hazardous waste and chemical disposal.
- Established a policy for proper disposal of fats, oils, and grease, distribute to staff, and post in key areas.
- Installed outdoor ash trays to prevent cigarette litter, and make pocket ash trays available to staff who smoke.
Sustainable Purchasing
- Established a policy for reducing the toxic chemicals/materials in the workplace.
- Established a policy for purchasing locally.
- Established a policy for purchasing environmentally-friendly cleaning products.
Transportation Efficiency
- Established a no-idling policy.
- Telecommuting option available to some employees.
- Installed a bike rack with sufficient space for at least 10% of your employees.
- Installed weather-protected bike storage (indoor or outdoor).
- Participated in a bike to work challenge.