Reversing coffee's unintentional impact.
Each year, 25B lbs of dried green coffee is processed for export. From that, 100B lbs of cascara (the fruity pulp that surrounds the coffee bean on the plant) is also produced, of which 70% is thrown to waste.
As the cascara is left to decompose, it wreaks havoc on our environment and generates methane gas equivalent to 31B lbs of carbon dioxide annually. That’s the same level of emissions as 3 million automobiles in a single year.
Things are only getting worse.
Leading scientists predict that by 2050, 50% of the current usable land dedicated to coffee production will no longer be viable due to warming temperatures resulting from climate change. Ironically, wasting cascara is contributing to the industry’s greatest challenge.
So...now what?
At Riff we love coffee and we love our planet. But we don’t love coffee’s impact on our planet, so we’re doing something about it by creating possibilities out of coffee beans and the whole dang coffee plant.
We utilize 100% of the agricultural value of the coffee plant by using the coffee bean for our cold brew coffees, and cascara for our new line of plant-powered Energy+ beverages.
And that's what we call a win-win-win.
Upcycling cascara and avoiding food waste, Energy+ is carbon neutral, and party of 1% For The Planet—donating 1% of revenue to non profits in coffee growing regions.
Creating an opportunity to double income and employment for coffee farmers by generating demand for cascara.
Reducing the coffee industry's contribution to climate change by utilizing 100% of the coffee plant’s agricultural value.
Why stop there?
Did you know that deforestation for agricultural expansion causes 15-18% of global greenhouse gas emissions? Global climate change is one of our world's biggest threats, and we are committed to doing our part to take action. That's why we are partnering with Grow Ahead, an organization standing behind reforestation projects run by small-scale farmer organizations to help combat climate change and support communities.
$1 = 1 Tree Planted
You now have an opportunity at checkout to plant a tree for just one dollar, and offset the carbon emissions from shipping your package. With this contribution, you are part of a positive cycle of replenishing forests and creating vibrant food systems across the globe. With our friends at Grow Ahead, you're helping support agroforestry projects in Mexico, Honduras and Peru.
Download our white paper we developed with Oregon State University on the opportunities for Upcycling and Recycling Coffee Fruit.
