Biting the Hands That Feed Me
Photo by New England Cooks
Below the fold is an e-mail I wrote to my workplace’s head honchos recently about the stinky, landfill-filling, fossil-fuel-sucking, brown-swill-brewing Keurig coffee-pod system we use that I LOATHE with every mitochondria-harboring cell of my being. (I also stuck a sign, cribbing a line from Anna, which said, “Paper cups do grow on trees. Please bring your own mug.” They’re probably changing the entry codes on the doors as we speak.)
Hi all,
[Niceties etc. that may keep me from getting fired.] Since we’re using the Keurig system, I would like to recommend switching our K-cups to Green Mountain’s Fair Trade Organic Coffee:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E1FDFC/103-6531823-3011858
“Organic” means the coffee was grown and harvested without insecticides or pesticides (which means you’re not absorbing those into your body, either) and are a great deal gentler on the environment and surrounding wildlife. (Not only does organic agriculture reduce the toxic burden we’re placing on the ground, air, water, and food supply, it also cuts down on our overall exposure to hazardous chemicals that have been linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, immune system suppression, nervous system damage, and disruption of hormonal systems.)
“Fair Trade” means the coffee workers are guaranteed what counts as a living wage in the country of their origin, instead of watching their hard-earned profits whisked away by predatory middlemen. By demanding fair-trade products, you’re leveraging your power as a consumer to push for better trading conditions and fair returns for marginalized producers and workers—it is sustainable, equitable trade, not aid, which holds part of the answer to alleviating poverty in the developing world.
This would be a great leadership opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to both your employees and clients that [redacted] is a socially responsible company with a conscience—and one that is not just focused on the bottom line.
Thank you for reading thus far, and considering my suggestion. [More niceties etc. that may keep me from getting fired ... maybe.]
Best,
Jasmin
meranie said,
July 9, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Yeah, I don’t know about the company where you work or the relationships you have with people at work, but seriously… I guess I’m just cynical from getting burned so many times by people who just don’t care. Here’s hoping your office listens to you and there’s change!
Brianne said,
July 10, 2006 at 4:42 am
Good luck. It seems like an awfully polite letter. I can’t imagine you getting in trouble for it, although I’m lucky enough to have a job where I could tell my boss not to bring that in the building. It’s why I keep it despite the crap wages. I hope you don’t get in trouble for it.
Amber said,
July 12, 2006 at 4:40 pm
Great letter, and nice that you bothered to put it in writing, directly offer an available alternative, and put in WHY you’re concerned. I would go only a half step further an not put more half of the first paragraph in parentheses. I often start composing things that way (as little side notes), but then find that they are statements on their own.
All in all, ballsy, well-informed, and potentially quite helpful, if for nothing else than letting someone know that yes, people care about organic, and hey, remember all the different places it impacts?
mark f. said,
August 20, 2006 at 1:33 pm
hi,
great letter.
i am trying to decide what to do about the keurig at my workplace right now. however, i am also concerned about the k-cups themselves. in my opinion, shooting boiling water trough plastic can’t be good for me. also, the plastic k-cups are not biodegradeable and produce way more waste than just a filter would.
if i cannot convince them to stop using the machine, i think that at least getting some fair trade coffee in there would be a great idea.
thoughts?