SCAA releases second instalment in Green Guide Module series

The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), Green Cafe Network and the Food Service Technology Center have released the second installment in the Green Guide Module series, which focuses on water conservation tips.. The Green Guide is a series of digital booklets, published in modules that cover key strategies for cafe operators in energy conservation, waste reduction, water conservation, and toxins reduction.  Green Cafe Network (GCN) is providing technical assistance for the Guide’s content, with key research and expertise from the Food Service Technology Center (FSTC).  Module One, which focused on energy conservation, was released in January of 2013.
 
SCAA and its Sustainability Council are encouraging cafe operators to utilise the first and second modules of the Green Guide, focused on energy and water conservation, designed to tailor strategies specific to coffeehouses. The initiative for the Green Guide grew from a stated need from SCAA membership and Guilds for more guidance and practical information on integrating sustainability principles into retail operations.   In addition, numerous studies on the environmental impact of coffee have concluded that the bulk of impacts are at the end of the value chain; thus a concerted effort at retail is key to lowering the overall carbon footprint of the industry.  As a result, the project brings together the industry’s leaders in sustainability education and consulting to provide solutions for cafes of all sizes across the country.
  
The third installment of the Green Guide, focused on waste reduction, is slated to be available in the SCAA store in early 2014.  Modules One and Two are available now at www.scaa.org/greenguide.