At Harbor Heights Coffee, we've always believed that every cup tells a story. Today, we're thrilled to share a new chapter in ours—one that extends far beyond the rich aroma of freshly roasted beans and into the heart of environmental stewardship. As of February 11th, 2026, we've partnered with CleanHub to ensure that every bag of coffee you purchase helps keep our oceans clean and our planet sustainable for future generations.
The Problem: Plastic's Journey to Our Oceans
Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste make their way into our oceans, threatening marine life and ecosystems. But here's what many people don't realize: 80% of ocean plastic originates from coastal communities in South East Asia and Africa—regions where waste management infrastructure is either inadequate or nonexistent.
This is where the concept of ocean-bound plastic comes into play. Ocean-bound plastic refers to waste found within 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) of shorelines in areas lacking proper waste collection systems. Without intervention, this plastic is destined to become marine debris, carried by monsoons, winds, and rivers directly into our seas.
The most problematic? Flexible and multilayer packaging—chip bags, sauce sachets, coffee pouches—materials that are either impossible to recycle or have no market demand. Unlike water bottles that can be recycled and resold, these items are often burned in backyard fires, dumped in landfills, or left to drift into nature.
The Solution: CleanHub's Innovative Approach
Enter CleanHub, a Berlin-based company that's revolutionizing how we tackle plastic pollution. Rather than waiting for plastic to reach the ocean and attempting costly cleanups, CleanHub takes a proactive approach: stopping plastic from getting there in the first place.
Here's how CleanHub makes a difference:
1. Building Local Collection Networks
CleanHub partners with local collection hubs in high-impact coastal communities across Asia and Africa—the gateway regions for ocean plastic. These hubs implement door-to-door waste collection systems and deploy creative technologies to catch plastic in rivers before it reaches the sea.
2. Track & Trace Technology
Transparency is at the core of CleanHub's mission. Using TÜV SÜD ISO-verified AI technology, every piece of collected plastic is tracked from pickup through sorting to final processing. This creates a complete audit trail, ensuring accountability and measurable impact. You can literally see where your contribution goes and the plastic it prevents from entering our oceans.
3. Fair Labor & Ethical Practices
CleanHub ensures that waste collection workers receive fair pay and safe working conditions. Their code of conduct aligns with international standards from the Fair Labor Association (FLA), Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), and Social Accountability International (SA8000). This means your purchase supports not just environmental sustainability, but social equity too.
4. Safe Processing of Non-Recyclables
Recyclable materials collected by CleanHub are sold for local recycling. But the real innovation lies in handling non-recyclable plastic—the stuff that would otherwise be burned or dumped. Through partnerships with companies like Geocycle, CleanHub uses co-processing technology that recovers energy during cement manufacturing, achieving superior environmental performance compared to landfills or incineration while reducing CO₂ emissions.
Our Partnership: One Bag, One Pound of Impact
Starting February 11th, 2026, every bag of Harbor Heights Coffee you purchase equals one pound of plastic recovered from coastal communities. It's that simple. Your morning ritual—that perfect pour, that first sip—now contributes directly to keeping plastic out of our oceans.
This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission at Harbor Heights Coffee: to provide high-quality, roasted-to-order coffee while keeping our planet sustainable for future generations. We've always believed that coffee brings people together, that each cup tells a story worth sharing—whether with a close friend or a stranger at the counter. Now, that story includes a commitment to our oceans, our communities, and our collective future.
Why This Matters to Us—and to You
Coffee is a global commodity that connects us to farmers, roasters, and communities around the world. Many of the regions where our beans are grown are also vulnerable to plastic pollution. By supporting CleanHub's work in coastal Asia and Africa, we're contributing to the health of ecosystems that sustain not just marine life, but the agricultural communities we depend on.
Moreover, we know that our customers care deeply about sustainability. You ask about our sourcing practices, our roasting methods, and our environmental footprint. This partnership is our answer—a tangible, transparent way to make a positive impact with every purchase.
Join Us in Making Waves
Every bag of Harbor Heights Coffee is more than just a product—it's a commitment. A commitment to quality, to community, and now, to our oceans. When you choose Harbor Heights, you're not just enjoying exceptional coffee; you're participating in a global movement to stop plastic pollution at its source.
So here's to the stories we share over coffee, the connections we make, and the waves we create together—one bag, one pound, one cup at a time.
Ready to make an impact? Browse our collection of freshly roasted blends and single-origin coffees, and know that with every purchase, you're helping keep our oceans clean and our planet thriving.
Learn more about CleanHub's mission and track the impact of our partnership at cleanhub.com.
Happy brewing—and thank you for being part of the solution! ☕🌊
