Sustainability

Learn More About Our Work

Sustainability, Practiced Daily

At necessary & sufficient coffee®, sustainability is not a concept — it’s an operational commitment. We focus on systems that reduce waste, support fair labor, and contribute meaningfully to our community, while remaining financially viable as an independent business.

Our approach centers on environmental responsibility, economic sustainability, and social impact, measured through audits, certifications, and long-term partnerships.

Environmental Responsibility

We operate as a zero-waste café, verified through independent waste audits. Our systems prioritize composting, recycling, reuse, and eliminating unnecessary single-use materials wherever possible.

Economic Sustainability

We believe sustainability includes how people are paid. We operate with a living wage + auto-gratuity model, designed to provide stable, predictable compensation and support long-term employment.

(Link “living wage + auto-gratuity model” → Auto Gratuity & Money page.)

Social Impact

We collaborate with local organizations and partners to ensure our work contributes beyond our walls — supporting education, environmental stewardship, and community-based initiatives.

  • Yes. Independent waste audits confirm that both of our cafés operate at zero waste, meaning the vast majority of materials are diverted from landfill through composting, recycling, and reuse.

  • We are Oceanic Global Blue Action Verified and participate in Shedd Aquarium’s Let’s Shedd Plastic initiative. We are Surfrider Certified which includes Alliance for the Great Lakes, and we are members of the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition Cooperative. These programs require verified reductions in single-use plastics and transparent operational standards.

  • We eliminate plastic wherever possible, prioritize compostable materials, support reuse systems behind the bar, and encourage guests to bring reusable cups and containers.

  • Food waste is actively minimized through production planning and training, then composted. We track waste regularly and adjust systems as needed.

  • Yes. We are a Living Wage for US–certified employer, using cost-of-living data rather than minimum wage standards.

  • Auto-gratuity supports wage stability, equity across roles, and transparency. It allows us to pay more predictably while keeping pricing straightforward.

  • We collect gently used sneakers through Got Sneakers, repurpose them responsibly, and donate the proceeds directly to The Center on Halsted, supporting LGBTQ+ community services in Chicago.

    This initiative supports both waste reduction and local social impact.

  • No — and we don’t claim to be. Sustainability is iterative. We audit, adjust, and improve continuously.

  • Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond compostable products. You might wonder why some of our plants look a bit wild—it's because they’re native prairie plants, grown from seeds harvested by volunteers and reestablished by Possibility Place Nursery. These plants create vital habitats for wildlife, supporting beneficial prairie insects like the regal fritillary, Illinois grasshopper, monarch butterfly, and bumblebee. They also provide safe nesting grounds for birds like the bobolink and eastern meadowlark. At the core of our efforts is a true dedication to sustainability (over 70,000 pounds diverted from landfills to healthy compost, some of which nourishes our gardens). This isn’t a trend—it’s a value we uphold because it’s simply the right thing to do.