City of Charles Sturt
Brewing sustainability – The Responsible Cafes initiative in Charles Sturt
This case study shows how the City of Charles Sturt’s partnership with Responsible Cafes sparked a ripple effect of sustainability, empowering local cafés to cut waste, save money, and lead the way in the circular economy.
In support of its Economic Development Strategy and commitment to a circular economy, the City of Charles Sturt partnered with Responsible Cafes to pilot a program helping local cafés reduce waste and embrace more sustainable operations. The initiative was launched following a business breakfast event and a tour of the Central Adelaide Waste and Recycling Authority (CAWRA), which inspired participating businesses to explore how they could reduce their environmental footprint. The program was fully supported by the City of Charles Sturt’s Economic Development team.
About Responsible Cafes
Responsible Cafes is a national non-profit founded in 2013 by the volunteer group Responsible Runners, who noticed a growing volume of hospitality waste during beach clean-ups. They created a website and support platform to help the café industry divert waste at the source. The movement gained traction after being featured on ABC’s War on Waste, and today nearly 5,000 cafés are registered with the program and appear on its national map.
As part of the Charles Sturt pilot, Responsible Cafes’ General Manager, Marion Vigot, acted as the business advisor, providing tailored one-on-one support to each café to implement practical, effective waste-reduction strategies.
Program overview
Through the pilot, nine local cafés were supported to identify and act on sustainability opportunities. The results were compelling:
- 50% reduction in landfill waste per café.
- 11,160 single-use cups and lids projected to be diverted from landfill annually.
- Cost savings for participating cafés ranging from $43 to $772 per year.
These figures demonstrate that sustainable practices not only benefit the environment but also improve the bottom line.
Coffee in Common: A sustainability success story
A standout from the pilot was Coffee in Common, which implemented The Udder Way milk tap system, replacing single-use plastic bottles with reusable 18-litre kegs. This shift removed the need for nine 2-litre bottles per keg. They also launched a one-litre refillable glass milk bottle program for customers — saving approximately 60–80 single-use bottles each week.
Other local businesses, including Cirelli Coffee & Roastery, My Grandma Ben, The Local Canteen Henley Beach, Mio Piatto, and Two Sisters have since followed suit — creating a ripple effect of sustainable practice change across the region.
The Responsible Cafes initiative highlights how local government leadership, paired with grassroots expertise, can empower small businesses to make measurable environmental change — and inspire others to do the same.
Please note that the information provided has been submitted by the organisation and has not been independently verified.
