Sustainability in Coffee Roasting: How Stone Creek Coffee Puts Farm to Cup Into Action

At Stone Creek Coffee, sustainability is more than a goal—it’s a way of life. Guided by our Farm to Cup mission and strengthened by our status as a certified B Corp company, we’ve built practices that care for people, communities, and the planet at every step of the coffee journey.

When it comes to sustainability, three core areas where our impact is greatest are: sourcing sustainable coffee beans, practicing eco-conscious roasting, and finding better answers for packaging.

Sourcing Sustainable Coffee Beans

The story of sustainability begins at origin. Coffee is a crop that depends on healthy ecosystems and fair labor practices to thrive. That’s why we invest directly in long-term relationships with farmers and exporters who share our values.

• Paying beyond fair trade: In 2024, our average green coffee purchase price was $3.09/lb, which is 71% above the Fair Trade minimum. This helps ensure farmers can reinvest in their farms, families, and communities.

• Living wages at origin: Working with B Corp partner Caravela Coffee, we benchmark our prices against the “Minimum Prosperity Price” (MPP)—a true sustainability standard that exceeds cost of production and supports livelihoods. Last year, 14% of our coffees purchased met or exceeded the MPP threshold.

• Multi-year partnerships: Over 96% of our coffee is purchased through multi-year partners, creating stability for both producers and Stone Creek Coffee.

By sourcing sustainable coffee beans with intention, we’re ensuring the long-term viability of coffee farming and preserving the integrity of every cup.

Sustainable Coffee Roasting

Roasting is where the art of flavor meets the responsibility of sustainability. Every roast requires energy, but the way we roast can minimize environmental impact.

• Renewable energy: 95% of our electrical energy in 2024 came from local wind farms, helping reduce our carbon footprint.

• Energy efficiency: We’ve invested in roasting and facility systems that prioritize conservation—programmable thermostats, efficient HVAC, and Energy Star appliances.

• Composting & recycling: Seven of our nine cafes, along with our bakery and kitchens, divert daily coffee grounds and food waste through our Compost Crusader partnership. Since 2021, we’ve diverted over 154,000 pounds of waste from landfills.

Sustainability in roasting means that every bag we ship is not just sweet, clean, and juicy—it’s crafted with care for the environment.

How to Balance Cost and Sustainability in Coffee Packaging

Packaging is one of the toughest challenges in sustainable coffee. Customers demand freshness, but traditional coffee bags and single-use plastics often come at a cost to the planet.

At Stone Creek Coffee, we’re learning how to balance both cost and care:

• Compostable & recyclable materials: We are transitioning packaging away from conventional plastics, moving toward options that can return safely to the environment.

• Reducing plastic waste: In 2024, we launched utensil “opt-outs” for to-go orders. More than 1,400 customers opted out, eliminating nearly 3,000 plastic utensils.

• Smarter design choices: From reducing unnecessary paper manifests to optimizing delivery routes, we’re finding ways to cut waste at every level.

This ongoing work reflects our belief that how to balance cost and sustainability in coffee packaging isn’t just a question for companies—it’s a responsibility we owe to the communities we serve and the planet we share.

Why It Matters

Choosing Stone Creek Coffee means choosing one of the sustainable coffee brands working to transform the industry. By supporting us, you’re helping ensure that farmers are paid fairly, roasting is done responsibly, and packaging is reimagined for a greener future.

Every cup is an opportunity to care—for the earth, for people, and for the future of coffee itself. Farm to Cup isn’t just our mission. It’s our promise.