TCBY / Starbucks/The Coffee Spot - Santa Monica College

1900 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405

(310) 452-4761

http://www.smc.edu/BusinessServices/VendingServices/Pages/Vendor-List.aspx


GBC 2019-2022

TCBY was the first food establishment at Santa Monica College to achieve Green Business Certification in 2009. Owner, Mike, proudly displays his Green Business Certificates so students can read about his environmentally-friendly business on campus.

Used coffee grounds are collected by students and then composted in the SMC’s Organic Learning Garden managed by CLUB GROW. The Garden consists of 1,200 square feet of planting space, including several options-- raised beds, containers, mounded beds, and constructed herb gardens. TCBY offers organic and sustainable food in line with Santa Monica’s Sustainable Food Commitment goal to reduce meat and dairy consumption, and giving preference to organic foods. TCBY reduces waste by having staff refill stainless steel bottles during work shifts. They further encourage REUSE on campus by offering a generous discount to students and staff bringing in their own cup for refills.  All of TCBY/Starbucks and The Coffee Spot paper product items such as napkins, towels and printing paper, contain minimum post-consumer recycled content materials.

TCBY/Coffee Spot/Starbucks switched to paper straws and take out containers in response to the Plastic-free student campaign request to reduce disposable plastics on campus and in efforts to prepare for Santa Monica’s revised Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance which went in effect January 1, 2019; mandating businesses to only package take-out food in marine degradable containers.

For energy efficiency, Mike retrofitted accent lights on menu display with LEDs and upgraded the BOH operations’ lights to LEDs, adding a savings of 17 kWh per lamp.  Retrofitting hand sinks with high efficiency aerators also conserves an additional 540 gallons of water annually.  TCBY/Starbucks and The Coffee Spot also stock Green Seal certified cleaning supplies. Their Green Team staff members, continue educating and inspiring employees around sustainability.