Green to Save Green Tips 41 - 45

You don’t need to sacrifice profits to go green with your small business. In fact, going green might save your business some money! In this Green to Save Green series, I’m challenging readers to make 101 environmental changes over the next 1001 days.

Here are Tips 41 - 45 - all about greening your coffee break. For the rest of your challenge tips, head to this post. If you’re making any (or all!) of these changes with your small business, let me know by leaving a comment!

Tip #41: Buy “green” coffee. When purchasing coffee, look for organic, fair-trade, environmentally friendly beans. Yes, it can sometimes be more expensive, but if you shop around, you can find some great joe prices, even for brews that are environmentally friendly.

Tip #42: Stop at McDonald’s for your pre-work cup. McDonald’s has awesome cheap coffee, and beginning in 2009, they’re going green. You can find a cup for much less, so why not swing by their drive-through with your carpool. If you don’t have a McD’s on the way to your work, do a little research to find out what restaurants in your area are serving green coffee.

Tip #43: Purchase reusable mugs for guests. I already talked about how you should ditch the Styrofoam cups for mugs for your employees (see tip #14), but what about guests to your office? Consider purchasing some classy, washable mugs they can use as well. It means a little money at the start, but you’ll save over time since you won’t have to buy cups anymore. I like something clear like this one, or you can even go for mugs with your company logo on them that guests can take home - at less than a $1 each, it is a small expense for some great advertising!

Tip #44: Buy a personal coffee machine. Sure, it makes sense to brew a few pots for the entire office in the morning. What about the one employee who drinks it all day though? I worked in an office once where one girl would make pot after pot, only to pour half away every time because it would get cold. Invest in a personal coffee maker for the “all day”-ers. You’ll save money on the coffee you’re dumping down the drain, and it’s more environmentally friendly since you’ll be wasting less coffee and water. I actually own this one and LOVE it.

Tip #45: Stop drinking so much coffee. You can’t change the habits of everyone in your office, but you can change your own habits. Do you really need that cup of coffee? Instead, try to focus on healthy eating and sleeping routines so you’re less tired during the day. Reduce what you use - it is better for your health, your pocketbook, and Mother Nature.