Coffee &
Climate Action
Evidence shows an increasing number of consumers switching to more ethically and environmentally responsible brands. This means that it is possible to support sustainable coffee (carbon-neutral or carbon-negative) for long-term change.
The impacts of climate change on coffee and other crops are real. Rising temperatures will reduce the area suitable for growing coffee by up to 50% by 2050. According to a recent study, the climate crisis will hit Europe’s coffee and chocolate supplies. In some regions, coffee and cacao are also leading causes of illegal deforestation with devastating effects.
Many questions arise: How to promote sustainable development amongst the communities responsible for coffee production and consumption? How is the coffee cultivated and processed? How is the coffee roasted? Transported? Packaged? How much carbon does each step in the process use?
Our partners demonstrate a commitment to more sustainable practices, to reduce and offset CO2 emissions within the coffee production cycle. The CO2 created by coffee production is offset locally within which it is produced.
Buying coffee roasted at origin and more local products has a tangible impact on the environment and the communities where it is purchased.
By offering our selected variety of coffees (and more products) in your daily life or business, you are working with communities to reduce the negative impact coffee production has on people and the environment.
We ensure the communities and habitats that play such a vital role in coffee production are protected and help in our sustainability journey and emissions offsetting commitments.
Our local partners are using the best agricultural practices to sustainably grow the best coffee. Most of the small specialty coffee producers are following organic practices without being certified due to cost barriers, bureaucracy, a lot of paperwork and because their organic farming practices are a living tradition. They are “passive organic” or organic by default.
Also, they know that chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not good and for a lot of small farmers, are too expensive. We want to bring you closer to the impact you are making while ensuring that local projects receive the most support possible. A percentage of each bag sold goes directly to these initiatives.
The carbon cost of your daily cup of coffee
We can change that.
You deserve to know where your coffee comes from
See what our partners do locally:
ORGÁNICUM KAIRÓS
Their focus is on Organic Agricultural Production. Our local partners in 13 municipalities are involved in local sustainability initiatives including proactive environmental strategies such as reforestation and agroforestry practices, planting native trees, protecting biodiversity areas locally and contributing to education and social local projects.
These practices are to let people know that there is a formula: If the coffee farmer is better paid, they are encouraged and motivated to produce the best. If they are paid a low price for their coffee, it is barely viable for the coffee farmer.
Efrén Roa tells us about the projects he works on with ASOVERFICOL:
Coffee Tasters of the Future: The young people, sons and daughters of small farmers, are being trained in coffee cupping and other areas to be the tasters of the future. One of their objectives is that they themselves become the people who, after the cultivation and processing, carry out their own cupping. They are in the process of developing a laboratory in the municipality of Algeciras, Huila, for this purpose.
The second project is around agroforestry with the use of native trees and fruit trees in our crops, conservation of areas and the connection with local ecosystems.
The third project is in beekeeping. Each coffee grower is currently working with at least one hive of Honey Bee (Apis) and Meliponas (Stingless bees). We also have abeja angelita (Tetragonisca angustula). this guarantees better pollination in the region together with the other insects and pollinating animals. The use of pesticides is evident in the reduction of bees and insects in some regions. Real bee and little angel bee.
Our purpose is the economic, social and environmental well-being of all, which we are implementing through good practices. We handle all the processes; however, the dry natural process is the one we use and promote. If we save and stop polluting water, it benefits us all. If we plant a tree and build a beehive, it favours us all. If we stop using chemical synthesis producers, which are the ones that kill microorganisms, the whole environment and society will be better off.
EDIYAURA
“The farm adjoins the Reserve called Balsillas. A group of people from our community (Comuneros) are working on the care of this natural reserve, together with the municipality and other community groups. We are working on prevention, mitigation, and control of logging, and wildfires in its surroundings. We have started reforesting 18,000 native trees in the area”.
“The protection of micro watersheds is one of our goals. In this ecosystem, joint efforts are made between institutions, associations of indigenous peoples and peasants start to work jointly in regional planning efforts to manage sustainable agroecosystems, recuperate river basins, and implement indigenous ’life plans‘”.
Women's Coffee
Among the most important projects implemented by these women associations in the three regions, we can highlight the following:
-To plant more shade trees, resulting in the growth of more than 50,000 new trees. These trees have not only provided an ideal microclimate for the retention of nutrients in the soil, they have also created a bridge between fractured ecosystems, building a more biodiverse area.
-Creating diversified productive systems following the best agricultural and environmental practices that generate income.
-The inclusion of women at the center of the production process.
-Linking a significant number of families to social projects and programs.
-Participation of women as community leaders and representation in the public and private sector.
By getting our coffees, we are working all together on the SDGs three pillars:
Economic Development,
Environmental Sustainability, and
Social Inclusion