Café Soleil sources over 80% of its ingredients from local Wisconsin farms within 57 miles to reduce its carbon footprint. This local sourcing represents a 97% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to the average US food travel of 1,750 miles. The café also engages in composting, recycling, and uses eco-friendly disposables and lighting to further reduce its environmental impact.

1. “ L’Etoile’s Green Caf é ” 25 North Pinckney Street Madison, WI 53703

2. Café Soleil Café Soleil is a welcoming, informal street-level space where our bakers and chefs produce our signature croissants, artisanal cold-rise bread, sweet and savory pastries, warming soups, hearty sandwiches, and fresh salads. But What is Café Soleil Doing to be Green ?!?!

3. Local, Local, Local! By using almost entirely local ingredients produced in Wisconsin, Café Soleil is able to reduce its carbon footprint on the region and world at large Weekly shopping at the Dane County Farmer’s Market contributes to reducing Café Soleil’s carbon footprint…the last part of the food’s journey is completed by wagon (see right)! Chef Tory Miller at the Dane County Farmers Market with his wagon.

4. Abundant Wisconsin This map of Wisconsin illustrates the locality of Café Soleil’s ingredients. Southern Wisconsin provides a wealth of amazing produce including: vegetables, fruits, nuts, honey, meats, fresh water fish, cheeses & other dairy products.

5. And just how local is it? Organic Consumers Association estimates that on average food travels 1,500 to 2,000 miles from farm to table* (For our calculations we will average this distance to 1,750 miles.) Caf é Soleil estimates that over 80% of all its ingredients travel an average of 57.3 miles from farm to café table! * http://www.organicconsumers.org/corp/foodtravel112202.cfm

6. The Green Factor The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 22.2 pounds of carbon dioxide are produced in motor vehicles per one pound of diesel fuel* 1 gallon of diesel fuel weighs 7.1 pounds Additionally, the Transportation Energy Data Book estimates that the average fuel economy for heavy single unit trucks in 2005 was 8.8 miles per gallon (Edition 26, Chapter 5) and that 90% of medium/heavy truck fuel consumption is diesel (Edition 26, Chapter 2, Table 2.4)** * http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/420f05001.htm ** http://cta.ornl.gov/data/index.shtml

7. The Green Factor If a truckload of food travels an average of 1,750 miles at 8.8 miles per gallon: 1,750/8.8 miles = 198.9 gallons of diesel used 1 gallon of diesel = 7.1 pounds of diesel 198.9 x 7.1 = 1,412.2 pounds of diesel 1 pound of diesel = 22.2 pounds of CO 2 1,412.2 x 22.2 = 31,351 pounds of CO 2

8. The Green Factor If a truckload of Caf é Soleil’s food travels an average of 57.3 miles at 8.8 miles per gallon 57.3/8.8 miles = 6.5 gallons of diesel used 1 gallon of diesel = 7.1 pounds of diesel 6.5 x 7.1 = 46.2 pounds of diesel 1 pound of diesel = 22.2 pounds of CO 2 46.2 x 22.2 = 1,026 pounds of CO 2

9. The Green Factor 31,351 – 1,026 = 30,325 So for 80% of Café Soleil’s ingredients, the equivalent of a truckload of food produces 30,325 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide!

10. The Green Factor The Ratios: Mileage: 57.3/1750 = 0.03 CO 2 emissions: 1,026/31,351 = 0.03 Overall, buying food locally represents a 97% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions!

11. Sustainable & Organic Besides reducing carbon dioxide emissions, sourcing sustainable & organic ingredients helps to protect, conserve, & restore the beautiful environment that surrounds us. This is a qualitative measure making it much harder to quantify & study. Organic Kale growing at Jones Valley Farm near Spring Green, WI

12. Sustainable & Organic Improves Water Quality Because organic farms do not use fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, etc. there is less runoff pollution from their land into local waterways Improves Soil Quality Sustainable & organic agriculture practices enrich soil instead of depleting it of its naturally occurring nutrients which are necessary for growing healthy, quality produce Chickens at Snug Haven Farm near Belleville, WI

13. Animal Welfare & Environment All of the farms that Café Soleil sources meat from take great pride in being humane to their animals. Cates Family Farm & Willow Creek Farm are Animal Welfare Certified Treating animal livestock humanely also improves the environment that surrounds them. This is in drastic contrast to the water, soil, & air pollution that comes from large factory farms or confinement operations Happy Berkshire Pigs at Willow Creek Farm in Loganville, WI Free roaming Highland Cattle at Fountain Pairie Farm in Fall River, WI

14. Just Coffee Cooperative In 2008, Café Soleil and L’Etoile began grinding and brewing special blends from local coffee roasters, Just Coffee Cooperative Just Coffee offers 100% fair trade and organic coffee and encourages ecologically sound agricultural practices from all of their coffee growers … they also deliver the coffee beans to Café Soleil by bike! http://www.justcoffee.coop

15. Café Soleil is trying to lessen its impact on local landfills by composting as much as possible. Our compostable ingredients include: Coffee grounds Coffee filters Egg shells Tea leaves and bags Sandwich bread, limited quantities Bread dough, without a lot of fat Paper without ink, limited quantities New disposable containers Soy milk Fresh fruits and vegetables (apple cores, lettuce, tomatoes, onions) Pickles, without juice Onion skins Meat, in small amounts Composting & Recycling

16. Composting & Recycling All of these wonderful scraps get picked up by our friends from Drumlin Community Farm. At Drumlin, staff combine Café Soleil’s compost, plant waste, mulch, & manure to produce an amazing organic material to use as plant fertilizer.

17. Composting & Recycling In addition to composting, staff at Café Soleil recycle all glass, plastic, aluminum, & paper on a daily basis Café Soleil employees encourage customers to recycle all of the above, as well as encouraging customers to use less. For example, if you don’t need a bag, a plate, or an extra napkin, please do not take one! Café Soleil also offers a discount on coffee if you bring in your own mug!

18. Eco-friendly Disposables Our “plastic” to go cups and boxes are not actually plastic; they’re made out of corn and will biodegrade in less than 2 months. Our “plastic” take out bags are also made from corn; even our trash bags are made from a minimal amount of plastic and are recyclable.

19. Eco-friendly Disposables Traditional paper cups have a petroleum lining, but the paper to go containers at Café Soleil are lined with corn! Plus, the paper is chlorine free and made from sustainably harvested trees, which is a renewable resource!

20. Lighting In July 2007, Café Soleil switched to all flourescent lightbulbs. These lightbulbs will last about 4 years and will use 87% less energy than conventional lightbulbs.

21. Café Soleil All in all, Café Soleil is committed to lessening our impact on the environment in order to be responsible members of our community and our world. Simple solutions and dedication to the cause are at the core. This commitment and these ideas can be taken into any business to make it green!