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 # Trouble Brewing For Green Mountain Coffee: Do 3 Billion Plastic Cups Negate 30 Years of Sustainability? - A blog by Olivia Khalili

 

##### Olivia Khalili created Cause Capitalism to show businesses how to grow by incorporating a social mission.

 

 

 Aug 10, 2010 3:13 PM ET

 [Trouble Brewing For Green Mountain Coffee: Do 3 Billion Plastic Cups Negate 30 …](http://3bl.me/xxzatw)

Does a history of progressive social and environmental responsibility compensate for recent environmental abuse?

 

[Green Mountain Coffee ](http://causecapitalism.com/trouble-brewing-for-green-mountain-coffee/How%20does%20brand%20acquisition%20impact%20the%20parent%20brand%27s%20sustainability%20image?)is staring into the face of this question now with criticism of its environmentally noxious single-use coffee pods that work with its Keurig brewing system. Last year, more than 80% of Green Mountain’s $803 million in sales came from the nonrecyclable, nonbiodegradable coffee pods. A New York Times article says this year the company “expects to sell nearly three *billion* K-Cups, the plastic and tinfoil pods that are made to be thrown away — filter, grounds and all — after one use.”

 

Since its founding in 1981, Green Mountain Coffee has practiced progressive sustainability. It offsets 100% of direct greenhouse gas emissions, contributes 5% of pre-tax profits to nonprofits, runs a biodiesel fueling station and developed a hot-beverage cup with a compostable lining. I regret that I didn’t cover this when I [interviewed](http://causecapitalism.com/microsoft-dan-bross/) Mike Dupee, Green Mountain Coffee’s vice president of CSR because I think he would have given it a fair shake.

 

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