The Tea Room

Member Since: 2016

Baseline Year: 2015

Baseline GHG Emissions: 7.99 tonnes CO2-equivalent

Green economy leader badge.
 

*for information on the badges, visit https://www.sustainably.eco/#/badges

About the Member:

The Tea Room is a zero consumer waste, student-run coffee shop on Queen’s University campus. Since its establishment in 2006, the organization has been founded on three pillars: Environmental Responsibility, Community Education, and Fiscal Sustainability. The cafe specializes in loose-leaf tea, coffee, and espresso while offering a variety of wholesome lunch and snack options.

Click here for the Tea Room's full Sustainability Case Study!

 
Highlighted Sustainability Projects:

Current:

  • The Tea Room had an amazing 49% reduction on its carbon footprint since 2015

  • Reduced its use of natural gas (84%), and electricity (16%) since its baseline. Also, bunker fuel has not been used since 2017

2019:

  • Queens introduced sub metering in 2019 allowing a narrower range of data to be used which enables more granularity in monitoring

2018:

  • Provides incentives to customers to bring reusables: 15% off drinks with a travel mug, 15% off bagels and $1 off sandwiches with tupperware

2017:

  • Upgraded lighting to LED

  • Reduced 4% of GHGs

2016: 

  • All Tea Room products and packaging are biodegradable, and linked to a commercial composting waste flow (e.g. plant-based "plastic" lids)

  • Power Down for the Planet educational campaign continued to promote how to live more sustainably at home (ongoing).

  • Partnership with Queen’s University Experimental Sustainability Team to review and improve business sustainability (ongoing)

2015: 

  • Published an internal Compost and Waste Management Report.

  • Contracted thinkBIG consulting on sustainable business and published a recommendations report.

  • The Tea Room formed a partnership with the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation's Corporate Carbon Neutral Program

2014: 

  • Inauguration of the annual Teas for Trees campaign (ongoing)

2012:

  • Green Globe Award - Waste Reduction from CEEC

2011:

  • Official zero consumer waste status reached, all products and packaging were diverted from landfill.

2009:

  • Promotional partnership with the annual Commerce and Engineering Environmental Conference (CEEC) (ongoing) 

  • Greener and Cleaner educational campaign 

2008:

  • The Tea Room has maintained a Bullfrog Power membership since 2008.

  • Weekly Planet Earth screening in the Tea Room in association with Students Taking Responsible Initiatives for a Viable Environment (STRIVE)

2007:

  • Sustainable business class talk at KCVI 

  • Development of HATCH metric system to measure water and energy cosumption 

  • Introduction of the Tea Room Environmental Education Library (ongoing) 

2006:

  • Vermicomposting system on site 

  • Introduction of biodegradable cups and packaging 

  • Selling Fairtrade tea and coffee and locally sourced food items (ongoing) 

  • Partnership with a coffee co-op in Guatemala (ongoing)


Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

 

*In 2019, Queens introduced sub metering which allowed a narrower range of data to be used.