Sustainable living starts with small, impactful changes, so who better to inspire us than our fave eco-friendly cafes leading the charge? We teamed up with Momentum Energy (FYI they’re 100% owned by Hydro Tasmania who are Australia's largest generator of renewable energy) to spotlight eco-friendly cafes in Melbourne. Here, we have a yarn with a couple of legends to bring you practical, planet-friendly tips you can adopt in your everyday life.
Reduce, Reuse And Recycle
Growing up we were always taught the precious three rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. And while some of us may be guilty of letting that mantra fall by the wayside, South Of Johnson’s Stuart McKenzie said it’s an ethos ingrained in the iconic Collingwood cafe. And it's so simple, we can all incorporate the practice into our daily lives.
“I'm constantly learning,” he explains. “So we're looking at how things arrive and what's left behind when they arrive. We send a lot of our packaging and containers back to the manufacturers to recycle or reuse.”
So next time you’re packing up your empties, have a Google and see which brands and companies might recycle or reuse them for you.
Ditch Single-Use Plastics For Good
Australians use a huge volume of single-use plastic per person per year, which is why eco-friendly cafes like South Of Johnson are reducing single-use plastics and containers by encouraging customers to B.Y.O.
“There are people in the area that will bring a bowl or we'll supply them a bowl and they just keep bringing that bowl back rather than using takeaway containers,” explains Mckenzie. “Quite a few people also use the takeaway cups for coffee—it's great. You can see the culture changing.”
Next time you’re swinging by your local take-out joint, ask them if they’d be open to using your own containers—you never know what they might say and it’s an awesome way to reduce your single plastics usage.
B.Y.O As Often As You Can
According to the experts at Sustainability Victoria, Australians use one billion disposable coffee cups each year—that’s around 2.7 million paper coffee cups going in the bin every single day. The legends over at sustainability hub Into Coffee are reducing single-use plastics by encouraging customers to B.Y.O.
“We don’t have disposable coffee cups [at Into Coffee], so we have a couple of options,” explains owner Luke Phillips. “You can bring your own cup, but we’ve also got a cup deposit system where you can take one of our in-house cups with a lid. We’ve got an edible cup, too, but then, if all else fails, we’ve got a mug library on the wall with second-hand mugs from the Red Cross.”
Invest In Solar
Not only do solar panels reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, but they can also help to reduce your power bill. Fitting out your space with sustainability at the forefront is something Stuart McKenzie knows all too well. Especially when it came to opening South Of Johnson in a former warehouse space with soaring five-metre-high ceilings.
“[South Of Johnson is in an] industrial space, it wasn't designed for anything other than to be a factory,” he explains. “So insulating it properly and putting in skylights and ceiling fans was the first step. Then I realised I had to have heating and cooling because it was really hot in summer and freezing in winter. About 10 years ago, we put in 40 solar panels. They generate enough power to be able to run the heating and cooling and some of the lighting. It takes a big chunk off the power bill, which is great.”
Shop Local
From growing your own fruit and veg at home to doing your weekly food shop at the farmer's markets, shopping locally is a super simple—and uber tasty—way to live more sustainably. “All the bulk goods at Into Coffee come from The Source Bulk Foods up the road,” Phillips says of this Collingwood eatery.
“We get all of our baked goods and bread from a combination of Smith, Deli, and Falco. We just walk up there with a tray and trade it over for yesterday's.”
Sourcing your food locally like Luke and the crew at Into Coffee has a myriad of benefits on the environment. You’re reducing carbon emissions from less road travel and you’re supporting local agriculture by spending your money on locally farmed produce.
We get it, in today’s climate every dollar counts. While picking the perfect spot for brunch with your crew is important, choosing the right energy provider matters even more. With Momentum Energy, you’re not just getting great value, you’re backing a company owned by Australia’s largest renewable energy generator.
Momentum also offers GreenPower, a government-accredited program that matches your electricity usage with accredited renewable electricity added to the grid on your behalf. By adding GreenPower to your electricity plan and paying a little extra on your power bill, you help support Australian-accredited renewable projects while making a positive impact. It’s a win-win.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Momentum Energy and proudly endorsed by Urban List. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make Urban List possible. Click here for more information on our editorial policy
Images: Urban List and supplied.