Sustainability at Roastar Pt. 5: Community Support

Community support means rolling up our sleeves and taking action. We think hard about where we can make the greatest local impact in a way that aligns with our larger sustainability goals. One effort has been waste deferral, which is all about finding ways to recycle or repurpose waste so it doesn’t just end up in the landfill, something we previously discussed for our second pillar.

Here are some of the ways we’re making it happen:

Teaming Up with the Wausau Woodchucks

Partnering with the Woodchucks baseball team gave us the chance to tackle the issue of single use plastics. Together, we introduced aluminum cups into their stadium and significantly reduced waste. But we didn’t stop there. We also provided educational materials to teach fans how to properly dispose of their waste and clearly labeled the stadium’s trash and recycling receptacles so that waste ends up in the proper place. The initiative was a home run for sustainability—and a fun one at that.

Plastic Bag Collection

As our employees support local businesses, they may end up with an unwanted collection of plastic bags that can’t be curbside recycled. We turned our facility into a drop-off location to make it convenient for employees to recycle their plastic bags. To date, we’ve collected over 500 pounds of plastic bags, diverting a significant amount of waste from landfills and helping reinforce the importance of small but meaningful actions.

Adopt-A-Highway Program

Since April 2022, we’ve picked up trash along an adopted stretch of highway near our facility twice a year. Our employees volunteer for these cleanup efforts, which creates a cleaner environment by putting the trash where it belongs.

E-Cycling with Good News Project

When we organized an electronics recycling drive, we didn’t just help the environment—we helped people, too. We collected over two tons of e-waste and funded $2,000 in processing fees for Good News Project, a nonprofit organization that has recycled 3.8 million pounds of electronic waste and also rents out medical equipment for short-term use, another way to reduce waste through reuse!

Sustainable communities are built by people who care, which is why we’ve made it easier than ever for our employees to give back. Team members can use up to eight paid hours a year to volunteer, whether it’s raking leaves during United Way’s annual Make a Difference Week or joining a local cause close to their heart. By giving our employees the time and resources to give back, we’re building a caring culture that naturally creates change in the places we live.

We also keep our team informed and engaged with our Sustainable Digest, an internal newsletter that highlights volunteer opportunities, recycling drives, and other ways to get involved. It’s just one more way we’re making sustainability accessible for everyone.

Our efforts don’t just stop with cleaning highways or reducing plastic use. By collaborating with the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technologies, we’ve helped them secure grants for new technology and equipment. This partnership has had a far-reaching impact, from improving our own certification processes to creating jobs and fostering innovation in our community.

Along the way, we’ve discovered that great partnerships start simply, with a conversation. Begin by asking questions and staying flexible. Talk to your city or local organizations about their challenges and come to the table with a willingness to collaborate. Keep in mind that initiatives that require more manpower may be unattainable for many organizations facing workload or staffing challenges. It’s equally important to be patient—sustainable change takes time, and the best solutions often require multiple iterations.

By focusing on local impact and staying adaptable, any company can create a sustainability strategy that benefits their community while reinforcing their core values.

Sustainability isn’t just an initiative at Roastar; it’s a reflection of who we are. This series has given us the opportunity to showcase the five pillars that guide our sustainability journey: Transparency & Education, Waste Deferral, Product Development, Reducing GHG Emissions, and now, Community Support.

Together, these pillars represent a comprehensive approach to sustainability that extends from the materials we use to the relationships we nurture. While this is the final installment, our commitment to sustainability is ongoing—because making a difference isn’t a one-time effort, it’s a way of doing business. We remain committed to expanding our efforts and finding new ways to make an impact right here at home.

Thank you for following along on this journey. Here’s to a future where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand, creating positive change for our planet and our communities.