1860Cares: Turning Everyday Waste into Everyday Good
At 1860 Coffee + Food, we love good food, great coffee, and a full café. But behind every great dine-in moment is a reality most people don’t see.
Waste.
And lots of it.
At our pioneer branch alone, we go through around 3,000 plastic cups every month. From a business standpoint, this is normal. Even efficient.
From an environmental standpoint? It’s alarming.
The Plastic Problem We Can’t Ignore
Here’s the truth we can’t look away from: one plastic cup can take at least 200 years to break down. And even then, it never fully disappears.
Plastic ends up everywhere. In our oceans. Our mountains. Our communities.
Recent studies have even detected microplastics in human blood. Some experts believe this may be linked to rising health concerns today.
Scary? Yes.
A reason to do nothing? Never.
How Our “Waste” Gets a Second Life
With Campo Vida’s creativity and dedication, everyday café waste becomes something meaningful.
🌱 Used plastic cups become containers for hydroponic systems and seedling starters
🌱 Empty syrup & sauce bottles are reused for organic fertilizers and self-irrigating planters
🌱 Spent coffee grounds are added to soil as a natural fertilizer
What once held coffee and sauces now helps grow food. From café waste to farm tools—that’s a transformation worth sharing.
Why This Matters (And Why Your Order Matters Too)
Every time you dine at 1860, you do more than enjoy good food and coffee.
You are also:
🌾 Supporting sustainable farming practices
♻️ Helping reduce plastic waste
🌍 Contributing to environmental awareness
Your purchase doesn’t just support our café. It helps good ideas grow and spread.
With Gratitude to Campo Vida 🌾
We are deeply thankful to Campo Vida Agricultural Learning Center.
Their commitment to sustainability, education, and environmental responsibility continues to inspire us. They remind us that change doesn’t always start big.
Sometimes, it starts with something as small as a used plastic cup.
This Is Just the Beginning
1860Cares is not a one-time project. It is a promise.
As we grow, we commit to finding more ways to care—for the planet and the community. So the next time you sip your coffee or enjoy a meal at 1860, remember this: Your purchase creates impact.
And together, one cup at a time, we choose to care.
Goodbye Plastic Straws
On August 29, 2024, we sold our very last plastic straw — and that’s something worth cheering about! In our effort to reduce single-use plastics, 1860 has officially made the switch to Sugarcane Straws. Now, every sip you take at 1860 is a little lighter on the planet. It may be a small change, but together with our community, we believe small steps lead to big impact. Thank you for sipping sustainably with us and making a difference one cup at a time.
Choose to Reuse
Here’s a little reward for caring about the planet: bring your own cup or tumbler at 1860 and get ₱10 OFF your drink order!
Sure, it may mean a little sacrifice for us, but every bit counts when it comes to protecting our home. We’d much rather lose a few pesos than risk adding a bit more to the plastic pollution world-wide. So don the cape, sip responsibly, and join us in this small but powerful act of love for the environment.
1860 Shares to Rescued Kids
On September 29, 2025, the 1860 Team woke up extra early with one mission in mind: to bring joy, hope, and a whole lot of love to 70 rescued children under the care of CSWDO Sta. Barbara. Armed with smiles (and coffee, of course), 25 of our team members gathered to set up activity stations — each one designed to spark creativity, confidence, and laughter.
The morning began with music as the Sta Maria Vanguard Drum and Lyre band filled the air with energy. Then, one by one, the children explored different corners of fun: the Art Station for painting and coloring, the Crafts Station for bracelet-making, the Read & Learn nook filled with thoughtfully designed learning materials, the Kiddie Bar where they mixed their own soda pop with flair, and the Pangarap Drop Box — a simple space where kids could dream out loud about what they want to be when they grow up.
The program ended with gift-giving, packed meals, and one last round of smiles shared between our team and the children. It was a short morning, but one we’ll carry with us for a long time. Because at 1860, caring for our community goes beyond the walls of our café — it means showing up, giving back, and reminding these kids (and ourselves) that no dream is too small to start imagining.
A big thank you to CSWDO Sta. Barbara for welcoming us, and to the children for letting us share in their laughter and dreams.
