How Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Gets Greener Profitably

June 23, 2009 By Paul Miller, Editor-in-chief, All About ROI

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* Reuses cardboard. In its plant, Green Mountain handles tons of cardboard. It used to just pay a company to take it away and dispose of it. But now it bands all cardboard up and ships it to a company that sells it to larger box stores that import from overseas. “Now we get paid to have it picked up,” Comey said.

As for the cardboard it doesn't ship out, Green Mountain shreds it and uses it for packaging. “This sends a great message to consumers that we’re reusing our materials,” Comey said.

* As for recycling, Green Mountain uses pallets made from 100 percent recycled material. Overall, the company has reduced its waste from 600 tons to 400 tons.

* Green Mountain also has an extensive energy recovery program. It’s increased the generator in its plant from 35 percent efficiency to 70 percent efficiency, Comey said. It also installed laser-jet printers that eliminate hazardous materials while producing cleaner printing jobs. “They burn off the top layer of ink when you do your own barcoding,” he pointed out.

Among other energy reduction measures, the company installed nitrogen generation, increasing its common footprint.

* In its fulfillment center, Green Mountain was able to increase natural lighting, making it a better place to work while cutting wattage 50 percent, saving $18,000 a year.

As for promoting its sustainability efforts, “customers like what we do,” Comey said. “We walk pretty softly about telling them, but have done more over the years. If you don’t say anything about it, you’ll never get the PR that lets people know what you are. We want people to think of our company as a business agent for change.”