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BREWING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

We’re proud of our coffee sustainability efforts, from fair trade bean sourcing to investing in renewable energy and beyond.

OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS CARBON-NEUTRAL COFFEE.

In our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we’ve made significant progress by investing in renewable energy and reducing waste across our operations.

In 2019, we took a major step toward sustainability by investing over $300,000 in solar panels for our Eagle Farm and Bowen Hills roasting facilities. These panels help power the roasting process, which produces more than 1,200 tonnes of roasted coffee each year, while reducing our energy usage.

“Our objective is to offset our carbon footprint by ensuring our roasting facilities are carbon neutral.” Simon says, Merlo’s Head of Operations. However, the journey isn’t over yet. In our mission to reduce waste, we’re also focusing on takeaway packaging and encouraging our wholesale customers to switch to compostable bags.

“We’re close to where we want to be, but there’s still work to do,” Simon adds. “We want to show other businesses how easy it can be to adopt sustainable practices. With so many incentives and technologies available, there’s really no excuse.”

HOW DOES IT WORK?

BioPak combines innovative material design with a business model that is responsible and sustainable to create a truly regenerative brand, one that creates products that are as safe and healthy for people as they are for the environment.

When our products end up in landfill, the carbon emissions they release represent 60% of their total lifecycle footprint. We are working on an emissions reduction roadmap that will see us invest in local projects that help divert packaging and food waste from landfills.
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ORGANIC WASTE BIN

All cups, lids, coffee grounds, food scraps and compostable packaging go into our in-store organic waste bins.
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COLLECTION

These bins are collected weekly from Merlo Coffee stores across South East Queensland.
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COMPOST

The organic waste is processed in a commercial composting facility into nutrient rich compost in less than 12 weeks.

WHY BIOPAK?

THE FIRST CARBON NEUTRAL COMPANY IN AUSTRALIA
BioPak is 100% carbon neutral, which means that any carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere from their business activities, is balanced by an equivalent amount being removed/offset - achieving a net-zero carbon emissions effect.

CERTIFIED B CORPORATION
Certified B Corporations (or B Corps) are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, and public transparency.

BioPak was founded with a mission to address the environmental impact of single-use disposable packaging made from fossil-based plastic and has been a certified B Corp since 2018.

INNOVATION EXCELLENCE
BioCups from BioPak are the first and only products of their kind to be certified carbon neutral, B Corp and commercially compostable to AS4736 standards in Australia and New Zealand.
read more about biopak

OUR POSITIVE IMPACT | JULY 2023 - JUNE 2024

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69,050 KGS OF PLASTIC AVOIDED

Choosing more sustainable alternatives to finite fossil-based plastics helps fight and reduce plastic pollution.
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119 TREES PLANTED

By supporting Rainforest Rescue, Greenfleet & Ecologi with their tree planting and environmental restoration initiatives.
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1,841 MEALS DONATED

Feeding people in need with not-for-profit food rescue organisations OzHarvest, KiwiHarvest and Worcester Food Bank.
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1,513 LIVES IMPACTED

MedEarth recovers usable medical supplies destined for landfill, and redistributes them throughout developing countries.