Practice #10: Bring your own containers, to the cafe

For me, long gone are the days of being able to sit at a coffee shop and enjoy a scone and coffee in their “for here” plates and mugs. Those were beautiful days and I miss them immensely but the reality is, if I’m getting something from a coffee shop these days, it is going to be “to go.” And if you’re shooting for less waste living, this presents an opportunity to cut down on the typical waste.

Almost every weekend, my family gets chocolate croissants from Comet Coffee, Croissanterie, & Creamery. Their croissants are the most luxuriously flakey, buttery, melt in your mouth creations I have tasted this side of France. (And I now know their bear claws are just as delicious, but I digress.) In order to cut down on waste, I take a Pyrex Homecontainer with me for the baked goods and, if I’ve been on good behavior and earned myself one of their Tahitian Vanilla Lattes, I take my Klean Kanteenas well. I won’t often tell you that you NEED to purchase something because I don’t believe that we HAVE to purchase things in order to make less waste but let me take this moment to step away from that and tell you that you NEED to purchase Pyrex containers if you don’t have them already. Please invest in one of those boxes with an assortment of sizes. Buy it for yourself or, if you can’t swing it, tell your parents or significant other or a group of friends that you want it for your birthday. There will be more posts to come where I suggest that you use this Pyrex and it will be in your best interest to use it. I know it may be hard to believe, but a good set of Pyrex helps you to create less waste in ways that some other products just can’t. Now, stepping back to the cafe experience, if you’re only getting a cookie or one single croissant, feel free to have your cloth napkin handy and have them put it in that so you can then start eating it as you walk out the door or you can wrap it up for later.

As for the Klean Kanteen, or any other to go mug you have, always use it. Say no to those paper cups and plastic lids and cardboard sleeves. In fact, I believe that if you are out and about and do not have your to go mug on hand, you should actually forego that coffee you wanted. Yes, I said it. Sacrifice your wants for the sake of the planet. I have been out numerous times where I have just wanted to grab a quick cup of coffee but because I have not had my to go mug with me, I went without. It was good for me to feel the sting of not always getting what I want and, like the reusable bag debacle from the other day, it encourages me to remember it next time.

Thanks for sticking with me with these posts. They are seeming to become longer and longer as the time goes so I appreciate you reading through them. I will try to keep them as short as possible but sometimes I just can’t help myself.