[Interview] Cafe 'Eolseueoseu' Thinking About the Earth

'Earth Us' Without Disposable Products
Minimizing Waste Output, Shared Values with Customers
CEO Gil Hyunhee: "Zero Waste Everyone Can Achieve"

Cafe 'Earth Us' Thinking About the Earth

[Culture & Life Reporter Eunji Kim] When you flip over the paper menu with a pleasantly crisp texture, you see the phrase above along with a hand illustration symbolizing a 'promise.' Looking just a little lower, you can spot an illustration of a person seemingly embracing the Earth. 'Earths' located in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, informs customers of the store's beliefs before they place their orders. At the same time, they make a pinky promise to avoid using disposable products.

'Earths' is different from a typical cafe. First of all, there is no plastic. If you want takeout, you must bring your own 'container.' You need a personal airtight container to take 'Earths' drinks and desserts outside. You won't see any tissues either. Instead of tissues that instantly become trash, 'Earths' provides washable handkerchiefs.

Everyone at the cafe seemed accustomed to the 'NO disposable products' policy. At 'Earths,' you can easily encounter customers naturally taking out personal containers like tumblers from their bags. Also, the store is filled with items fitting the zero waste slogan. The tape fixing the posters is paper tape, not plastic, and the teacup showcase is a cabinet that CEO Gil Hyunhee of 'Earths' brought from her grandmother's house.

The so-called 'grandmother's tea cabinet' signified that 'Earths' zero waste scope had expanded further. CEO Gil Hyunhee said, "My mindset has been the same since starting 'Earths.' What has changed is that the efforts to minimize waste have increased, and I feel a greater sense of responsibility." CEO Gil Hyunhee proposed another way to protect the Earth through a cafe that avoids disposable products. We heard from her about the past, present, and future of 'Earths.'

'EarthsUs' CEO Gil Hyunhee

Part 1_Past

'Earths' Notice on the Back of the Menu, Guide to Ordering at a Plastic-Free Cafe

Q. What inspired you to think of a disposable-free cafe like 'Earths'?

A. When I was a university student working part-time at a cafe, I often saw disposable plastic cups turning into trash. The cup holding iced Americano was clean even if rinsed with water, but I had to throw it away with my own hands. It made me uncomfortable. At the time, I was interested in the environment but never imagined running a cafe like this. I just wanted a job that contributes to society or makes the world more beautiful. The 'Earths' feed I started in university was created with the intention of delivering messages about the environment. As I consistently posted related content and images, followers increased, and I set a goal to create a 'no packaging cafe.'

Q. What zero waste attempts have you tried while running 'Earths'?

When 'Earths' cafe opened in 2017, it was trendy to put paper cup holders on plastic cups. I wanted to go the opposite way. Not only avoiding disposable products but also allowing customers to experience 'Earths' itself as much as possible inside the store. One idea was 'pretty cups.' I imagined customers drinking coffee in pretty cups and leaving, building 'Earths' around that. I also hoped what I wanted would become a trend. I think it has somewhat materialized. The first home cafe video I made also spread widely and has now become content many people create.

Q. I heard you suggested using paper tape to a cafe that sells coffee beans. Could you tell us about that?

At 'Earths,' we once sold calendars and donated all the proceeds. We made paper calendars without any fixtures, unlike desk or wall calendars that have springs. We wanted what 'Earths' makes to be disposable or reusable. Choosing paper tape was for the same reason. Can't paper tape reduce waste too? I conveyed this idea to 'Coffee Libre' in Yeonnam-dong. I suggested that it would be better to switch the tape used for packaging coffee beans to paper material. 'Coffee Libre' immediately responded, saying they would switch to paper tape as soon as their plastic ran out. In less than two months, 'Coffee Libre's tape changed to paper.

Part 2_Present

'Earth's Us' Coffee and Desserts, Handkerchiefs

Q. I'm curious about how you do the dishwashing.

We use solid detergent instead of liquid. Using liquid detergent requires PET bottles to hold it, which inevitably produces more waste. Liquid detergent is also inefficient. Even with the same volume, solid detergent lasts longer. Also, 'Earths' provides customers with handkerchiefs instead of tissues and actively uses dishcloths. Since hygiene is important in the business, we had many concerns, but by subdividing the usage areas of dishcloths in each part, we made 'Earths' cleaner.

Q. How do you dispose of waste?

Once, I went to a cafe where they washed leftover whipped cream down the sink. It was a shocking scene. At 'Earths,' we handle waste without letting cream flow into the water. Also, to minimize food waste, we inform customers in advance that 'Earths' desserts are quite rich in flavor, so ordering cake and ade drinks together might result in leftovers.

Q. I'd like to know about the cake development process.

I wanted to make a cake that satisfies all aspects like taste and quantity. Before developing a menu, I imagine as many ingredient combinations as possible. Because a lot of food is wasted during testing. It's really uncomfortable to throw away food after one bite if it tastes bad. For the cream cheese cake, I made it once and launched it immediately. To reduce food waste and trial and error, I calculate many things in my head before challenging a new menu.

Part 3_Future

Inside 'Eolseueoseu', Grandmother's Cabinet

Q. Are you considering adding vegan menu items?

A. I have a goal to reflect vegan menu items at 'Earths' in the future. If I personally feel the importance of veganism, consciously accept it, and continue practicing, vegan desserts will naturally follow.

Q. What is the charm of the new Seochon branch you will open?

A. I plan to open the third 'Earths' store, the Seochon branch. Seochon is the best space I have never experienced before. It is definitely the center of Seoul, but it has an aura unlike Seoul. I think 'Earths' Seochon branch will be a really great place.

Q. What does zero waste mean to CEO Gil Hyunhee?

To me, zero waste is 'nothing special.' Usually, when people think of eco-friendliness, they think of a lifestyle that requires enduring inconvenience. I want to convey that it is not so. Just like brushing your teeth three times a day, you can carry a tumbler or handkerchief as a habit. Anyone can do zero waste. I believe visible effects will come if you start with small things. If the awareness that you can practice something for the environment improves, then everyone will be a zero waster.