Sunshine Coffee opened in the Laramie Civic Center over the weekend on Nov. 5, 2023. The cafe is one of the first zero-waste cafes established in Wyoming, striving to reduce as much waste as possible.
“Our policies around zero waste are super different from anywhere in Wyoming, in that we’re not creating the waste of all the milk jugs. We also make all our oat milk and syrups in house because there’s a lot of cartons and bottles involved that we don’t want to waste, and also the shipping [materials].” said Megan Johnson, owner of Sunshine Coffee.
Sunshine Coffee has a long term goal for zero waste. They do not provide single-use consumer items except for compostable napkins and food wrap. They try to avoid packaging and work with local suppliers to source package-free and local goods.
The cafe’s goals stem from two events; the popularity of sustainability, and one of Johnson’s own personal experiences.
Over the past few years sustainability has boomed. People have become more environmentally conscious to the world around them. It has become trendy to drink out of metal straws and use strawless lids. People want to support smaller businesses and are saying “no” to consumerism.
Additionally, Johnson had an experience when she was traveling for business that promoted the idea of bringing Sunshine Coffee to Laramie. In that instance, she had to purchase a jar because the store did not have to-go cups.
“I want people to feel excited about bringing a cup that they love to drink coffee out of every morning. So we have that and then the people don’t bring their own cups. We have our free mug library and then the to go jar thing,” Johnson said.
Johnson wants to build a loving and supporting community for all in her cafe. She came up with the Neighborhood Account Program where anyone can have a cup of coffee and something to eat, even without the money to purchase it.
“[It’s] a space that’s open and welcoming to all. We also have our Neighborhood Account Program, which is kind of a way to like you know pay it forward. So I want anybody who comes in here to be able to get a meal and a coffee, no questions asked regardless of if they have funding or not.”
The cafe has so far raised 200 dollars for the Neighborhood Account.
