Empirical research is finding that plastic is hurting our bodies and our environment. Most of us are born with microplastics already in our muscle tissue and organs. Evidence in animal research shows microplastics are creating “vulnerability to infections, inflammation, impaired immune system, deteriorated tissues, altered metabolic function, abnormal organ development and cell damage” as cited by an article written for Stanford Medicine. Exposure to microplastics is also possibly harming reproductive, digestive and respiratory health and could be linked to colon and lung cancer.
As more and more plastic waste enters the world, it will slowly break down and add to ever increasing microplastic levels in our world. These microplastics are found in our drinking water and food. The larger plastics and waste are destroying ocean biomes and killing sea creatures (image of sea turtle with plastic wrapped around its neck).
There is not enough kimchi in the world to save us.
This is what led me to start Strange Bird Coffee and offer delicious coffee in plastic free packaging. There needs to be an alternative to plastic and I believe specialty coffee can lead the way and show other food industries how to do it.
Specialty coffee has always been an exemplar for the greater coffee industry. An idea within an idea for creating transparent and traceable value chains that lead with ethics, community and deliciousness. One of the bigger elephants in the room is capital Q, Quality. Specialty coffee was built on the idea that with a little bit of innovation and clarity, we can grow the highest quality coffee the world has ever seen and market it accordingly. The early pioneers within the specialty coffee sphere made their millions and left the rest of us to fend for ourselves, with little mapping on how to proceed. Capitalism will always prioritize the shareholders, etc etc.
I digress (as always). But the quality from seed to cup comes with a price. Most specialty coffee is transported from origin to North America using hermetic plastic bags. This is crucial to quality, because before the plastic bags, the green unroasted coffee was packaged in a simple burlap sack. Green unroasted coffee has a lot of fats (lipids) that can absorb off qualities while in transport. Having green coffee sitting in burlap while being transported across the globe in a shipping container on the ocean has a high probability of picking up some off flavors at the least. The plastic bag innovation is part of the reason we have the highest grade, highest quality coffee. This plastic bag is the biggest challenge for the specialty industry to innovate away from plastic.
From there, the coffee is roasted and most roasters package their coffee in plastic bags for freshness and shelf stability in grocery stores.
The grand irony for me is simple: roasted specialty coffee was always a fresh product, not intended to be sitting on a grocery shelf or in a warehouse. Innovation is crucial.
All I know is that we must innovate towards a plastic free future if we want to leave the world in a better place than how we found it. There are plenty of ways that I believe the industry can come together and make the decision to begin scaling their businesses in a way that is conducive to both financial growth AND ecological tactics that eliminate plastic, while not risking quality.
Strange Bird Coffee is just one example of thinking outside of the status quo and taking steps towards change. I will continue to lead by example and hope that it catches on sooner than later.
<3 Stephen