Since Rebecca and Terry Patano founded DOMA Coffee Roasting Co. in 2000, environmental stewardship has been a core value of the business. To current CEO Muir Harrison, supporting environmental advocacy groups such as Kootenai Environmental Alliance through sponsorships is a no-brainer.

“If today’s leaders, businesses, and consumers ignore our responsibility to steward the environment, then there won’t be coffee for the next generation,” Harrison said. “There won’t be sufficient clean water, or adequate snowfall during our winters to enjoy all the aspects of nature that we love.”

Rebecca Patano always knew she wanted DOMA to be a green business and said she looked to larger companies such as Patagonia as a model. Patagonia uses a "Triple Bottom Line" business model, which measures success based on three core pillars: people, planet and profit. The model prioritizes social and environmental stewardship alongside financial goals.

“We value the people in our supply chain, and we value the planet,” Patano said. “We had to make sure we were offsetting the cost to our planet with our profit.”

According to Patano, DOMA is continually improving its sustainability practices by using Avista’s My Clean Energy plan to reduce its carbon footprint and incorporating recyclable and biodegradable materials.

More than a decade ago, Patano joined the board of Kootenai Environmental Alliance, bringing her business and marketing expertise to the nonprofit. She helped launch KEA’s largest annual fundraiser, Junk2Funk, which DOMA continues to sponsor each year. Patano said DOMA also previously donated proceeds from coffee sold at Pilgrim’s Market to KEA.

“Part of DOMA’s philosophy was community involvement,” said KEA Vice President Janet Torline. “They came on board because they believe in that.”

The Patanos sold DOMA to Harrison because they knew he shared their environmental values. Today, he maintains DOMA’s relationships with environmental advocacy groups.

DOMA donates a portion of proceeds from its DEEP coffee to Protect Our Winters, a nonprofit that educates and advocates for environmental issues on a national level. Over the years, Harrison estimates DOMA has raised more than $50,000 for the organization.

Patano said sponsoring nonprofit fundraisers and selling coffee for a cause helps DOMA raise money while also bringing public attention to environmental issues.

“I feel we have a responsibility to educate people about the fragility of our planet,” Patano said. “We can all do our part.”

As a leader within KEA, Torline said building relationships with local businesses is important because they influence both the environment and the community. Creating a network of partnerships expands KEA’s reach and helps draw attention to environmental issues.

“It’s important to build that alliance,” Torline said. “And we need to support these businesses, they’re vital to our community.”

    DOMA Coffee Roasters Co. Coeur d'Alene location.
  

    DOMA baristas Ben Heintz and Jadyn Avena prepare coffees at the Coeur d'Alene store.
  

    DEEP coffee with proceeds donated to Protect Our Winters.