Many of us cannot start out the morning without a cup (or several cups) of coffee. If you brew your coffee at home, you know that using a new paper coffee filter for every roast adds up quickly. In buying our first coffee maker, we made sure to buy a reusable coffee filter from Cuisinart. We paid $14.95 for it at Bed Bath & Beyond, but were able to find it for under $7 at Amazon.com (see link above). We have not noticed any change in flavor, can use it over and over again, and are happy to know we are not unnecessarily wasting materials.

If you find yourself still needing a disposable coffee filter, you can use an unbleached, recycled, or biodegradable coffee filter.

Purchasing Fair Trade Certified products is as green as buying environmentally friendly materials.  TransFair USA notes that fair trade principles include the following: fair prices, fair labor conditions, direct trade, democratic and transparent organizations, community development, and environmental sustainability. Human rights in developing countries need to be protected, not exploited.

Check out TransFair USA’s Where-To-Buy guide for coffee and tea products by cafes, restaurants, and retailers in your area. Look out for the Fair Trade Certified label when you are at the grocery store or purchasing a cup of coffee. For Fair Trade AND Organic coffee and tea, check out the selection at Amazon.com.

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