December 10, 2021
Bulletin interne de l'Institut Pasteur
2021 European Week for Waste Reduction: the latest on the "Coffee from the boss!" initiative
From November 22 to 26, 2021, during the European Week for Waste Reduction, 412 of you (around 15% of all staff on campus) came along to test out the feasibility of the "Coffee from the boss!" initiative – in full compliance with hygiene and distancing measures. The idea was proposed by Philippe Casanova, one of the two winners of the 2021 sustainable development challenge run by the Sustainable Development Department.
urrently, 1 ton of plastic is used to produce coffee pods, generating 1.5 tons of CO2 equivalent (estimated on the basis of 30% of employees drinking 2 coffees per person per day). On top of this, around 4 tons of coffee grounds are thrown away each year instead of being reused on site. Although the coffee machine standby mode does not use much energy (just 0.5 to 10W), it continues for hours and adds up to around 90 kWh per year per machine for the most energy-consuming machines.
But all is not lost – it is possible to keep drinking coffee while taking care of the planet!
One solution: "A coffee from the boss!"
The aim
To involve all staff in reducing plastic, waste and energy consumption.
How?
By replacing individual pod-based machines with a shared bean-to-cup coffee machine, so that everyone can enjoy a "coffee from the boss." To curb the generation of waste from disposable coffee cups and stirrers, each employee will have to bring a reusable cup and spoon.
Where?
If the initiative goes ahead, a coffee machine will be installed in each building on campus. You were able to taste the quality of the coffee for yourself during the demonstration. The coffee machine area will also serve as a meeting place, a place to chat – and why not also to share photos, exhibitions and books with colleagues. These friendly, informal spaces can be used in all sorts of ways for a relaxed coffee and gathering with colleagues. As you saw during the trial event at the end of November 2021, the coffee grounds will be turned into compost by the "Les Jardins de Louis" team, which runs the collective gardens on campus. This project will depend on the health situation.
How much?
Given the reduction in energy and waste, it may be possible for the coffee beans to be bought on a collective basis for the whole campus. Institut Pasteur staff could come and help themselves to a coffee free of charge (literally a "coffee from the boss!").
The sustainable development challenge will be held again in 2022
The Sustainable Development Department will be running this challenge again in 2022, so you can already start thinking about what to put on your poster for next year. If you have any questions about the challenge, please send an email to challengeDD2022@pasteur.fr.