BROOKINGS – The Brookings Sustainability award for Triple Bottom Line recognizes “outstanding all-around programs that address all core considerations integrated across the three aspects of sustainability.”  

This year’s winner is Kool Beans Coffee & Roasterie of Brookings, as announced by the City of Brookings on July 31.

Kool Beans will be honored along with three other Brookings Sustainability award winners – 3M, Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge, and SDSU’s Department of Architecture – at an Aug. 30 awards presentation.

The Brookings Mayor’s Sustainability Awards recognize excellence in sustainable practices demonstrated by local businesses, organizations and individuals, while promoting a culture of resiliency. Award winners contribute to a more sustainable city by embracing and promoting an approach to business and daily living that balances environmental responsibility, economic prosperity and community equity.

The three pillars for the Triple Bottom Line Award are equity (people), economic sustainability (profit) and environment (planet), all of which are well represented by the business practices of Kool Beans Coffee & Roasterie of Brookings, a press release from the city says. “Owners Kurt and Christy Osborne and Joy Nelson are dedicated and hard-working members of the community.”

Environmental resilience 

Kool Beans considers the planet in many aspects of its business practices, the city says. Their shopping bags, cold cups, hot cups, lids and straws are all compostable. Kool Beans also sells refillable containers for coffee beans and offers $1 off for those who bring a container to fill, as this reduces packaging waste.

Its owners purchase organic ingredients with an eye toward sustainable production such as their organic beans, syrups and chai. They also use an organic chocolatier to produce their famous chocolate-covered-espresso-beans. 

A number of locally sourced products are utilized with consideration for the impact of local foods on the environment (as well as economic support of the community). Milk is sourced from Stensland Family Farms in Larchwood, Iowa, and is used both for liquid milk and the production of their Moooka Java coffee ice cream. 

Kool Beans had an eye on environmental sustainability from the outset, with its owners choosing to build their store using several up-cycled materials. The tables in the main sitting area are made from pallets, and they chose to use salvaged wood from the pine-beetle for tables in the new fikaffee meeting room.   

Social equality

Kool Beans owners have made it a priority to purchase Fair Trade organic coffee beans for their business. Additionally, they participate in a partnership with the Carmen Pampa community in Bolivia, joining a long-established relationship between St. Thomas More Church and South Dakota State University with this school/farm/church in Bolivia. For every pound of Carmen Pampa beans sold by Kool Beans, $1 is donated to the Carmen Pampa fund. The mission of this fund is to provide higher education to the poor and marginalized. 

The Tanzanian Mt. Meru Select coffee comes through a collaborative trade arrangement with the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A nonprofit was created for the project, and proceeds from the sale of the green beans go back to the villages near Mt. Meru.  The project enables small coffee farmers and the people of the Meru region to improve their standard of living and escape the cycle of poverty.

Kool Beans has also made local “access” a priority, setting the price of its wholesale coffee at a point that makes it reasonable for nonprofit organizations to purchase for their fundraisers and other events, the city press release said.  Its owners have worked with many local choirs, sports teams and other groups for coffee and also rent their meeting room to nonprofits for half price. 

Moreover, Kool Beans strives to make their store a comfortable place for people from all walks of life, training their staff and designing their spaces to feel welcoming.  The “Kool Kids Corner” was established as a place for children to engage in their store, encouraging the mix of multiple generations in a social setting. 

Economic vitality

Kool Beans Coffee & Roasterie contributes to the economic sustainability of Brookings and its downtown development. They provide jobs for 10 employees. Kool Beans also participates in several unique partnerships with other businesses in the community, increasing the circulation of the local dollar.

Specially roasted beans are sold to Wooden Legs for making coffee beer.  Kool Beans has a booth every Saturday at the Farmers Market, providing fresh coffee and products for this weekly community gathering.  Bozied’s carries Kool Beans products (roasted beans and chocolate-covered beans), and Kool Beans sells Bozied’s breakfast tacos in its store. They also partner with CC Bakery, which provides fresh baked products daily for the store.  

Seasonally, Kool Beans partners with local candy maker D&D Delights, which produces coffee pecan brittle.  Finally, Kool Beans contributes to the economic vitality of Brookings with the many donations they make to organizations, church groups and children’s organizations.  Examples of this are its annual support of the Larson donut booth, by donating the coffee. All proceeds from the booth benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Brookings. Kool Beans also offers a BOGO for mentors and mentees who are involved in the Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program. 

The Mayor’s Sustainability Awards presentation will be held in conjunction with the Butler Human Rights Award, Human Rights Commission’s Youth Ally Awards, ABLE Awards, Mayor’s Awards for Historic Preservation and the Mayor’s Generational Leadership Award at McCrory Gardens Education & Visitors Center, 631 22nd Ave., from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 30, with the program beginning at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.

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