The Green Scheme

Green Scheme Certificates are given to business partners who are taking action and making effort to operate in a more sustainable and environmental way. Each logo corresponds to a certain effort that the business is making.

These certificates are awarded in partnership with the Whangaparaaoa business association to business in the area. You can read more about some of our local eco heroes on this page.

Achievements include: Having a waste audit, composting food scraps, sourcing locally, providing plantbased options, reducing food waste, accepting reusable containers and cups, providing mug loan or borrow services, refilling water for free and reducing single-use waste.

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  • Two Spoons is a family-run cafe based just outside of Coast Plaza that sells healthy wholefood focused meals and snacks as well as smoothies and coffee. The cafe has made a significant effort to become as low waste and environmentally friendly as possible. Being one of the first food scrap producers to sign up with City to Farm, the cafe has already diverted 5 tonnes of food scraps from landfill over the last 3 years! A great effort for a small operation. Partnerships with Refill NZ to be a free water refill station and UYO nz to create a mug library are among some of the other environmental commitments that the cafe has made. The mug library gives customers the opportunity to borrow a takeaway cup for free and return it when they can, saving on single-use waste. With friendly staff, great food, and operating with the planet in mind, Two Spoons is definitely a local eco hero!

    1 Wade River Road Arkles Bay, Whangaparaoa

    IG @twospoonsnz

    FB - Two Spoons Cafe

  • Drifter Cafe is a dog-friendly and reusable-cup-friendly cafe nestled in the streets behind Orewa boulevard. Apart from selling great coffee, the cafe has a free mug borrow system and supports a range of local artists including ceramic cup creator 'Pottery for the planet' too. As you walk in, you are greeted by lovely staff, many plants and a sign that says 'Pick a cup' and points to a range of mugs and cups to pick from for your beverage of choice. By offer mugs and reusble takeaway coffee cups, the cafe greatly reduces the amount of single use waste they produce. Their efforts to be a enrivonemntally friendly cafe do not go unnoticed, Drifter Coffee is definitely a local eco hero!

    3 George Lowe Pl, Orewa,

    IG @Driftercoffeenz

    FB - Drifter Coffee NZ

  • Story coming soon

    Whangaparaoa Shop 739 Whangaparaoa Rd Stanmore Bay Auckland

    IG @ ken_yuka_dear deer wgp

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  • Story coming soon

  • Situated directly behind Sir Edmond Hillary in Hillary Square Orewa is where you will find The Real Food Kitchen. Your hosts Ling & Andy have only been in the Café business for a short period, and wanted to ensure that through their own efforts they didn’t increase the footprint in terms of landfill waste.

    We not only utilise our community’s recycling and composting resources where practical says Andy, but we have for some time now been proactive in our own personal endeavours to reduce waste at home by way of a worm farm and garden composting system.

    Having the support and guidance of Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste has been a valuable tool in critiquing our own processes.

    The Real Food Kitchen pride themselves on supporting the community and delivering exceptional service to customers. They offer the option to refill your own cup to reduce single waste cups, have fresh chilled water on hand for customers along with sourcing fruit and vegies locally just to name a few.

    Being Fur Babe friendly is another reason you would want to visit. Their own fur babe Prince Louis is not only adorable but has adopted the roll of “host” and will generally greet customers for a cuddle.

    Their selection of organic coffee, delicious fresh plant-based salads, wraps, smoothies, and cold pressed juices is what motivates returning customers from across Auckland to this hidden little gem. And bonus, they also offer a selection of Keto, Vegan, Dairy free and Gluten free items.

    Another eco hero in our view!

    12-14 Florence Ave, Orewa Auckland.