Glas is committed to preserving the environment in as many ways as possible.

Our Shawano location features a green roof. Hearty plants were installed on part of the roof at Glas and has a number of benefits. The urban heat island effect is the temperature difference between urban areas and their rural surroundings. Green roof vegetation helps by cooling the air, slowing air movement and acting as a substrate for pollution to settle out and detoxify. Roof temperatures are significantly reduced during the summer months. Soil in the green roof system acts like a sponge and absorbs excess rain water. It also acts as an insulator to both reduce noise and decrease energy costs.

Glas restored its shoreline by returning it to a more natural state. The coffeehouse partnered with Shawano County Land Conservation Department to remove the invasive grass in the water and add a natural garden along the waters’ edge with native plants and mulch. This buffer was designed to slow runoff water and naturally filter it before allowing it to seep more gradually into the waterway. The native plants used have deeper roots, which will make the shoreline much more stable in the long term. In addition to being very functional, the shoreline improvement project is quite aesthetically appealing. Read more about the shoreline project here.

To thank others who are thinking green, bicycle riders receive a reduced rate on drinks for doing their part to help the environment. We also offer a discount for those who bring in a reusable thermos as they are also reducing our carbon footprint by not using a paper cup each time.

We are committed to recycling and also compost whatever we can.