At rijo42, we’re always trying to tread as lightly on the planet as possible. That means constantly looking at our manufacturing processes and eco-friendly credentials and making changes wherever we can. Whether it’s energy efficient coffee machines or carrying out good practices in our own office, we’re always looking to reduce our carbon footprint.
We all lead busy lives so it’s natural that grabbing a coffee on the go has become so popular. However, due to a shortage of recycling points for the single-use cups that coffee shops often use, a staggering 2.5bn coffee cups end up in landfill each year.
To help stop this waste, we’ve developed a unique, innovative, and 100% plastic free recyclable eco-cup. This UK first can be recycled in regular paper and card waste streams, making it easier than ever before to lessen our impact on the planet by leaving single-use in the past.
Every year in the UK, we send 18 million tonnes of waste to landfill, much of which is plastic. Plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose, and much of it, such as plastic water bottles, is classed as ‘single use’.
We’re looking at all the plastic we use at rijo42, and are cutting it out wherever we can. We now use compostable and cardboard packing as much as possible. Our ultimate aim is to get to a point where we use no new plastic materials at all, and we’re already a good way into our journey.
Many of us these days lead busy lives, and like to grab a coffee on the move. If you’ve installed one of our ‘coffee on the go’ machines, then we’re delighted to say that our cups are to become fully recyclable. Many disposable hot drinks cups have a thin layer of plastic inside to help seal them, meaning they’re not fully biodegradable.
In 2019, we’re trialling cups with a lining made from a new material that will break down completely, allowing you to dispose of used cups in standard paper recycling bins.
Our move to new premises meant that we could get our environment how we wanted it right from the beginning, and we’re now operating a ‘green office’. It’s literally green, due to walls of plants which have been shown to boost happiness and productivity levels in office environments. It’s also ‘eco green’, as we operate strict waste separate and recycling policies and encourage energy conservation wherever we can.
Our 100% Arabica triple certified coffee blend contains 33% Fairtrade organic Colombian beans, 33% Fairtrade organic Sumatran beans and 33% Fairtrade organic Rainforest Alliance certified Peruvian, making it a great sustainable and ethical choice. The Fairtrade Foundation changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions and a fairer deal for farmers and workers in developing countries.
Rainforest Alliance certification means complying with 10 standards including ecosystem conservation and wildlife protection, while organic status is awarded by the Soil Association, the UK's leading food and farming charity.
Extensive research has shown that we should all be drinking around two litres of water a day, to help us stay healthy and work at peak performance. As a result, many workers buy a bottle of water on the way to work, or add one to their lunch order.
With approximately 13 billion plastic bottles used each year in the UK, though, we’ve added office water filtration machines to our range to help you cut down on plastic waste while keeping staff and customers hydrated.
As well as constantly striving to improve existing processes, we’re always on the lookout for innovation. Our coffee machines are precision-made from top quality components, meaning a longer, more efficient working life, and we’re now using an impressive 96% recyclable materials such as stainless steel.
The majority of our machines have outstanding A energy rating credentials, and we operate a recovery scheme for old machines so that they can be recycled, used for parts or disposed of responsibly.
