Thailand’s Akaryn declares war on single use plastic

The future of coffee depends on integrating sustainability into every aspect of the supply chain.  We are proud to recognize the important work that NCA members are doing across the sector, from improving the conditions at origin to developing eco-friendly facilities and recyclable packaging materials.  Whether you’re curious about what’s being done or looking for inspiration, take a look at how these organizations are making a positive difference today.   If you’re an NCA member and would like to see your company included in this directory, please contact us at [email protected]. Not a member? Find out how you can join the NCA community.

Once in a while you come across a story and this thought crosses your mind: These guys may have actually helped to save the world.
If you think that’s a bit brash, when was the last time you tried to open a package of Double A or Triple A batteries? How long did it take? How many sharp implements of destruction did you use? Did you wonder if all this packaging was really necessary? And finally, what would you do if you ever met the designers of this package?

Two Rivers Community School, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, places a strong focus on teaching sustainability. In fact, conservation of the natural environment is one of the cornerstones of its curriculum. One of the key components of the mandatory 8th grade student capstone project includes demonstrating how they have become good stewards of the natural world, including showing understanding of the importance of conservation, sustainability, and stewardship. The school emphasizes the importance of service and outdoor education.

In 1931, Soviet scientists were on the hunt for a natural source of rubber that would help the USSR become self-sufficient in key materials.  They scoured the vast and various territories of the Soviet Union and tested over 1,000 different species looking for an alternative to the South American rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensi. Eventually, on the steppes of Kazakhstan, they found one.   By 1941, the Russian dandelion, Taraxacum koksaghyz, supplied 30% of the USSR’s rubber.