The coffee at Sipping Duck Cafe is so good it’s considered a tourist attraction – but their commitment to sustainability is even better. Established in 2012 by Fiorella Denari, Lance Robinson, and Erik Ruelin, there are now Sipping Ducks serving great coffee in the tourism mecca of Cairns.
“Sustainability guides every decision we make.”
Running a sustainable business is not just about being compliant for Fiorella, who now owns the business with her husband Lance. Quality, ethically-sourced coffee beans and sustainability are the two essential items on the menu at Sipping Duck. They are non-negotiables. Fiorella explains, “Sustainability is considered in every decision we make, we recognise the pivotal role businesses play in shaping the future of our planet.”
The ecoBiz program was a natural, ethical choice
With Sipping Duck’s commitment to sustainability, it made perfect sense to join the Business Chamber Queensland ecoBiz program. Fiorella says, “When I heard about ecoBiz, I thought it would be great to get extra help to identify where we can implement new ideas.” Of course, ecoBiz delivered. Fiorella and her team have access to a suite of valuable business resources including coaching and coaching reports that have helped her team thrive.
Increased sustainability means increased profit
Another crucial benefit for Sipping Duck has been reduced costs. ecoBiz kept the business more accountable for its energy, water and waste – resulting in increased profits. The easy-to-use ecoBiz auditing tools keeps the business on track and motivated. Fiorella adds, ‘Showing me some numbers is great. It’s like a reality check. The personal advice from the ecoBiz team is the most valuable thing about the program.’
Sipping Duck is an ecoBiz Star Partner
It’s no surprise Sipping Duck has received the ecoBiz best practice Star Partnership for the energy and cost-saving measures they implemented. While awards are great, they’re not what motivates the Sipping Duck team. Fiorella says, “Winning awards is not enough for us, we have an action plan to improve further and compare our efforts on a yearly basis.”
Let’s change the world
Fiorella believes Sipping Duck can change the world. The small things they do every day creates a ripple effect with a big impact. “We have a local who has been coming to Sipping Duck for 10 years, taking the coffee grounds and food scraps home and composting them for his veggie garden. He then brings fruit and vegetables from his garden to the cafe – so the circular economy is thriving.”
The ecoBiz program supports Sipping Duck and any Queensland business that wants to tap into our rich resources. Let’s work together to make your business more sustainable, more profitable, and more resilient.
