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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING BEANS & BAGELS AS A CHAMPION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, operating since 1994, Beans & Bagels is a coffee and bagel shop located at 2601 West Leland Avenue, in District 12 of Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Beans & Bagels is known not only for its bagels and baked goods, house-made cream cheeses and spreads, organic, direct-sourced coffees, and local, seasonal ingredients, but also for its sincere efforts in environmentally responsible and sustainability business practices; and
WHEREAS, Beans & Bagels strives to be a model for businesses, working towards existing as a zero waste restaurant, dramatically reducing its carbon footprint, eliminating the use of single-use plastics, and embracing a circular and regenerative economic model; and
WHEREAS, recently Beans & Bagels started a reusable travel mug program, allowing customers to check out reusable mugs for $5, which is refunded upon its return, eliminating the need for disposable cups. They seek to expand this model for other items where disposable packaging is used; and
WHEREAS, Beans & Bagel’s reusable cup program and elimination of single use plastics earned it Three-Star Blue Verification by Oceanic Global’s Blue Standard in December 2022, the highest level of certification offered; and
WHEREAS, Beans & Bagels has received many additional awards celebrating its dedication to ethical and sustainable practices, including Chicago Circular Economy Leaders Network Member 2022, Living Wage for US Tier II Certification 2022, Slow Food USA Snail of Approval Award 2021, Green Restaurant Association 3 Star Rating Retained 2021, Chicago Reader's Best of Chicago Reader's Poll 2021, Chicago Food Bracket Best Bagels 2021, Green Restaurant Association 3 Star Rated Restaurant Awarded 2018, and Time Out Chicago's Love Chicago Award Runner Up 2016; and
WHEREAS, on Earth Day 2022, Beans & Bagels pledged to decarbonize its business by the start of 2024 by completing the electrification of all operations and sourcing all electricity used from renewables. They plan to scale up by engaging with suppliers and collaborating on how they too may decarbonize thereby reducing its greenhouse gas emissions even further; and
WHEREAS, Beans & Bagels prides itself on being environmentally minded, quality focused, and community centered, preparing good food and quality coffee, and making the world a bit better day-by-day, while serving as a model for other businesses who seek to do the same;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, hereby honor and celebrate Beans & Bagels for its dedication to the environment and sustainability; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to Beans & Bagels.
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