We believe coffee and business can be a force for good. That’s why we’re here. We want to be part of a better place and run a good business that puts honesty and shared values before profit.
Sustainability is complex and there are many factors that we value; fair prices, sustainable agriculture, life cycle and waste management are just a few examples.
Our approach is wholehearted and pioneering; leading the way and breaking from the norm. We think we're on the right track (keep scrolling down) but we want to be better.
We want to reduce our carbon footprint, reduce waste and single use products, promote fairness and give back to the community - both at home and afar. We know our part in the lives and livelihoods of the growers, who face climate change the most.
US
We roast really tasty coffee from our barn in Cornwall and we love what we do. The products we sell and the work we do promote social, economic and environmental prosperity while minimising the impact of our company.
So far, we think we’re on the right track. We import coffee by sail, provide financial traceability, buy specialty coffee direct and use 100% plastic-free packaging wherever possible (our 250g bags can also be recycled with your household paper). Plus, our roastery is powered by renewable energy (last year contributing net positive 13MWh of energy to the National Grid).
These steps are genuine and actually make a difference to both people and planet. No greenwashing, just action.
COFFEE
Growing
We favour buying coffee that is grown using environmental practices. This may come with a certification or an eyeball report. Organic, shade grown, agroforestry and protection of wildlife habitat are all key indicators of sustainably grown coffee. Likewise milling & processing can have a huge impact on the footprint. We know ‘natural processing’ is less wasteful than ‘washed’ and that C02 decaffeination is the least wasteful with the lowest carbon emissions.
Buying
We buy coffee from all over the world, following the harvests and celebrating flavour. All of our coffee is high grade and traceable down to the mill or community at a minimum. Premiums are paid above commodity prices and every effort is made to ensure this filters down the chain to where it matters most. We believe this model provides the best opportunity for economic empowerment.
Shipping
Our preferred shipping method is by sail. This is carbon free transit from the port of origin to Cornwall. Over the past few years we've been steadily increasing the volume of coffee we ship under sail, working with New Dawn Traders to roast and ship coffee for their Sail Cargo Alliance (SCA). We see this as direct climate action and we’re scaling our business around this concept. The rest of our coffee is shipped in containers, never by air.
2021 Shipped by sail: Yallah 1120kg // NDT 2380kg // 560kg SCA
2021 Shipped by container: 28696kg
Packaging
250g Pouches
We are pioneering the use of the ‘earth pouch’ for packing roasted coffee. At this moment in time, we are the only coffee roasters in the world to use this material.
These bags are 100% plastic free and can be recycled with your household paper. Making recycling easy for everyone, no matter your location is the best case scenario. Paper is the most commonly recycled material - with over 70% being recycled, here in the UK.
1kg bags
Our larger bags are Omnidegradable (R), which means they will break down in a variety of environments, from soil to sea and even landfill. This includes your average garden compost.
The organic additive reacts with microbes to create an enzyme that can break the long-chain molecules in plastic into pieces small enough for the microbes to consume completely, thereby reverting to their original elements. They leave behind only Water, CO2, and a small amount of organic biomass, all beneficial to plant growth.
Carbon Calculations
Trees For Life
We believe that planting trees is the best and most effective way of fighting climate change available to us. That is why we have a silver partnership with Trees For Life - a conservation charity dedicated to rewilding the Scottish Highlands. Their aim is to revitalised wild forest, providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive. The trees are native and planted because they enrich the landscape and wildlife, whilst mitigating carbon.
As a silver partner, we're committing to a engaging with their work on a holistic level, helping to fund projects including and beyond planting trees. Our support funds a varied programme of conservation work that is vital to the ongoing success of Trees for Life. Projects such as education and outreach programmes, native animal reintroduction and research that informs the fantastic work they do.
Carbon sequestration is a complex process that varies greatly depending on the species of tree, soil type, altitude, climate and other ecological factors. There is no rule of thumb for the amount of carbon a tree will offset in its lifetime. Our estimates are based of a survey done on one of the larger Trees for Life sites in the Scottish Highlands, suggesting approximately four trees will offset one tonne of CO2e.
So far, we've planted 191 trees in our groove. Sequestering 44,000 kg C02 in their lifetime.
You can see the progress of our grove and even support us by donating here.