Environment-friendly initiatives

Here at The Milkman we really care about the environment, that’s why we constantly strive to find new ways to reduce our impact and build a sustainable business so that we can serve you a delicious coffee without hurting our planet. In 2019 we have been awarded the LUXLife Global Hospitality Award for ​most Eco-Friendly speciality coffee shop in Edinburgh​. Discover more of what we do below:

Waste management and recycling. ​

Together with Changeworks recycling, we have tailored a waste management system with the goal of reducing our carbon footprint. Here’s what we recycle:

  • Cardboards, cartons and disposable cups

  • Plastic bottles

  • Food and coffee waste

  • Tins and cans

  • Glass

Promoting reusable cups and biodegradable packaging. ​

All our packaging is compostable and plant-based. In addition to this, we sell a wide range of reusable cups to suit everyone’s needs and offer a 10% discount on every coffee to whoever brings a reusable cup. Here’s what we sell:

  • Branded KeepCups

  • Ceramic take-away cups made by London based artist Melisa Dora

  • Ceramic mugs made by Edinburgh based artist Julija Pustovrh

  • Branded enamel mugs

  • Branded water flasks

Zero-waste interior. ​

Our wee coffee shop has been built using recycled materials wherever possible. Our shelves are just old scaffolding boards which would have been thrown away otherwise because too old and our counter is made with 100years old Canadian pitch pine wood taken from the floorboards of an old mill. Pretty cool, right?

Eco-friendly coffee-packaging

Our espresso beans come from the local roastery Obadiah collective. Their lovely team helps us in our mission by supplying us beans in plastic tubs which then get collected once a week, washed and reused for the following delivery. That’s so many bags saved!

Other things we do.

  • We use the app Too Good To Go to reduce food wastage to a minimum.

  • Our used coffee grounds are recycled but also reused to make locally produced

    bespoke coffee candles.

  • Wherever possible, we commit to using eco-friendly cleaning products in our shop.

We are always looking for ways to do better and reduce our impact on the environment. Do you have any suggestions? Send us a message to info@themilkman.coffee, we’d love to hear from you!