Environmentally Responsible Coffee

We strive to build community the most ecologically sound way possible.

Here are just some of the ways we’re reducing our impact.

San Leandro’s Only Certified Green Café
Zocalo Coffeehouse is the only certified green cafe in San Leandro, and one of only five in all Alameda County. Certification by the Alameda County Bay Area Green Business Program entails a long list of best practices from cleaning to garbage to water use to recycling and includes site visits to ensure businesses comply with all applicable environmental laws.

Working to Further Reduce our Impact
- Recycling for organics, plastic, glass, metal, and paper
- Use of recycled-content paper goods
- Efficient lighting and Motion-sensitive bathroom lighting to save energy
- Purchase of local supplies and foods where possible
- Low-flow toilets and faucet aerators to conserve water
- Minimizing heat and air conditioning use via air flow cooling
- Installation of an energy efficient “instant” water heater
- Use of solar power at our home-office
- Use of a hybrid vehicle

Giving You an Environmentally Responsible Choice
- We’re part of a “walkable downtown” reducing congestion & pollution
- Un-bleached, recycled paper products are provided
- Tap water is available for free to reduce the use of plastic bottled water
- We offer fair trade and organically grown coffee beans
- We use organically recyclable corn-based “plastic” cups
- Metal spoons are offered to reduce waste of wooden or plastic stir sticks
- Ceramic cups are made available to reduce paper waste
- We offer 10 cents off for use of you own cup or reuse of ours

We are always searching for more ways to reduce our impact.
Please let us know if you have any ideas to share at tim@zocalo.com