How to make a flat white sustainable
Since initial planning for Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre began, our team has been committed to leading the industry in world-class sustainable operations. Hot on the heels of winning the 2023 Skål International Sustainable Tourism Award (Community and Government Projects category), in February 2024 we achieved Toitū net carbonzero certification, meeting internationally recognised standards of measuring, managing and reducing lifecycles emissions from our operations.
We’re proud of what we’ve managed to achieve so far, and we're always looking at innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact, and to bring clients, guests and suppliers along with us on our sustainability journey.
Coffee: The conference fuel
The joy of coffee in our business cannot be underestimated - it plays a crucial role in enhancing a delegate's experience. However, during our first two years of operations, we realised the significant environmental impact of using 115,000 single-use coffee cups and 87,000 lids.
The waste issue
Unfortunately, Christchurch doesn’t currently have the facilities to recycle these items, so every cup ended up in landfill, each with a carbon footprint of 60.9 grams of CO2e (3).
Additionally, during this period, we used 21,000 two-litre plastic milk bottles for our coffee service. While these bottles are recycled, they are sent offshore for processing, which further contributes to our environmental footprint. We knew we had a responsibility to make a positive change.
Step 1: Reusable coffee cups
Our first step was to find a sustainable alternative to single-use coffee cups. After extensive research, we chose Huskee Cups—cups made from coffee bean husks, a by-product of coffee production that is traditionally left to decompose slowly on the ground. Using these cups allowed us to reduce waste and support a circular economy.
Step 2: Reducing Milk bottle waste
Next, we tackled our milk bottle usage. We partnered with Spout Milk (5), a small local company that supplies milk in 10-litre metal kegs, eliminating five plastic bottles from the waste cycle for every keg. The milk is produced just 45 kilometres from Te Pae Christchurch in Darfield, further minimising our environmental impact by reducing transportation emissions.
Step 3: Sustainable coffee bean packaging
We also wanted to address the waste generated by our coffee bean packaging. With nearly one tonne of coffee beans being used, traditionally supplied in 1kg bags, this was another area where we could make a difference. Working with our local coffee supplier, we developed a solution where our coffee beans can be delivered in 8kg buckets, which are collected, cleaned, and refilled with each new order.
The impact of these sustainability initiatives
Since the launch of these initiatives in late 2023, we have made significant strides in reducing our environmental impact in our coffee service, including:
- Reduction in the use of single-use coffee cups and lids by 53%
- Elimination of 3,780 two-litre plastic milk bottles from our waste stream
- Removal of 3,232 single-use coffee bags from the waste cycle
These simple initiatives have had a significant impact on our business. We’ve reduced our carbon emissions by diverting waste from landfills and offshore processing, lowered our operating costs through the decreased use of disposable items, and improved client satisfaction as they learn about what we are doing to reduce our carbon footprint.
As Nelson Mandela once said, “You can start changing the world for the better daily—no matter how small the action.”
Imagine the collective impact if everyone made just one small change today.
References
(1) JonoB. (2019, November 6). Saying no to single-use coffee cups. Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor. https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/2019/11/06/saying-no-to-single-use-coffee-cups/
(2) RNZ News. (2020, January 28). 1.7 billion plastic containers thrown in bins each year - WasteMINZ research. RNZ. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/408373/1-point-7-billion-plastic-containers-thrown-in-bins-each-year-wasteminz-research
(3) Erskine, R., & Erskine, R. (2023, August 9). New study shows recyclable coffee cups can reduce carbon footprint and save water - here’s how. Scotsman Food and Drink. https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/drink/new-study-shows-recyclable-coffee-cups-can-reduce-carbon-footprint-and-save-water-heres-how/
(4) Huskee - Reusable coffee cups. (n.d.). https://huskee.co/
(5) Spout milk. (n.d.). Spout Milk. https://spout.co.nz/
