Bewley's brewing up a carbon-neutral business

The iconic Bewley's Cafe on Dublin's Grafton Street will become a carbon-neutral coffee shop by the end of the year, its owners claimed today.

The coffee experts are brewing up to rid the atmosphere of CO2 emissions equivalent to 3,200 cars annually.

Bewley's said it will move to renewable energy sources, heat its headquarters from its gas fired coffee roastery, and support carbon offset projects in its roasting, tea blending, food service and retail operations, including the infamous Grafton Street Cafe.

Its aim to remove more than 3,500 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year.

Siofra Campbell, chair of Campbell Bewley Group, said every employee and business partner will be involved in its bid to become Ireland’s first fully certified carbon neutral coffee company.

The firm, which became the first company to import fairtrade-certified coffees 12 years ago, will also involve its producers in carbon reduction initiatives.

"We have already reduced energy usage and will be moving to a renewable energy provider," said Ms Campbell.

"We are implementing a new heat recycling system. In addition, a major recycling initiative is targeted at reducing waste and we are carrying out a feasibility study for organic waste composting from our Dublin roasting facility."

Sue Welland, of The CarbonNeutral Company, said companies such as Bewley's are leading the way in actively tackling climate change.

"For Ireland to reach its Kyoto Protocol target to limit emissions to 63 million tonnes per year, more proactive action from companies is needed," she added.