Sustainability
Sustainability
We may be a small, family operation, but we take our responsibility for people and the planet seriously. Our efforts are evolving, as we review, digest and act upon the latest insights. Our current commitments extend to three key principles:
- Giving Back to the Community
- Sustainable Supply Chains
- Reducing our Environmental Impact
1. Giving Back to the Community
Our extended coffee family is central to everything we do, and it is with great pride that we are now partner-level sponsors of Springboard. The Springboard charity supports disadvantaged and unemployed people gain the skills and experience they need to develop a lifelong career in hospitality, leisure and tourism. In doing so, Springboard are not only supporting the individuals, but providing a much-needed boost to these industries as well. A win for everyone!
An addition to our partner-level donation, we have committed to supporting Springboard with the Top Dog Employability Programme. We’ll be running quarterly training events with Springboard, after which the winners from each session will enter our final. The ultimate champion will be crowned Caffeine’s Top Dog and will be offered a job with one of our partners, a guest blend named after them, and a bundle of coffee goodies to take home.
2. Sustainable Supply Chains
We are proud to partner with some of the most trusted brands in the coffee industry, not only when it comes to quality and reliability, but also in terms of sustainability.
Coffee Machines
Simonelli Group | Victoria Arduino and Nuova Simonelli coffee machines.
In 2021 Simonelli Group formally joined the UN’s Global Compact to testify its commitment to pursuing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- The group is now cited as one of the 50 most sustainable Italian companies, according to the Sustainability Award panel.
- They continue to invest in scientific and technological research with the aim of progressively improving the environmental impact of their products.
- Over the course of 2022, they decreased electricity consumption by 25% and natural gas consumption by 27%.
- In 2022 they commenced the ISO:14001 and ISO:45001 certification process
- 1% of profits are invested in social sustainability projects, such as social welfare, sports, and culture, inspired by favouring diversity and paving the way for inclusion.
Case study | Eagle Tempo Sustainable Coffee Machine
Brita Water Filters
Water filters play a vital role in machine maintenance and coffee quality. We partner with Brita for optimal performance and sustainability.
The Brita sustainability charter is as follows:
Materials
Brita products help prevent waste and emissions. To improve their positive impact, Brita will reduce dependency on virgin plastic (30% reduction by 2025) and decrease the footprint of their products
Packaging
- Packaging waste is a global problem. Brita will reduce their footprint by using less packaging, replacing virgin plastic and using more sustainable materials. Specific targets are:
- Eliminate 5,000 tons of packaging by 2025
- Eliminate virgin plastic in new packaging from 2025
- Ensure packaging is 100% recyclable and supports the circular economy
Reuse and Recycle
- Brita prioritises reusing materials in their products and ensuring high-quality recycling over lesser forms of disposal. They want their product materials to live a valuable second life.
Specifically,- They aim to Increase the share of returned ion exchanger to 20% by 2025
- They have Implemented a dispenser refurbishment concept
Emissions
- Reducing company carbon footprint is a key contribution to help fight climate change. Brita will achieve this by minimising emissions and by off- setting what they cannot avoid.
- Brita have made emissions from Scope 1+2 as well as logistics, fleet and travel, carbon neutral since 2023
Coffee
Our coffee sourcing and roasting partner is BRC A+ certified and works only with reputable, established and quality-assured green brokers such as Sucafina and DRWakefield. We visit producers regularly to see first-hand how our coffee is grown, and to understand how the coffee growing communities are supported by our investment. See the individual coffee profiles for specifications.
Coffee Stories
Meet India’s First Lady of Coffee
Coffee Sourcing Trip: India 2024
The Journey of coffee: from farm to cup
Meet India’s First Lady of Coffee
Coffee Sourcing Trip: India 2024
Coffee packaging
3. Reducing our own Environmental Impact
We are in the process of reviewing the environmental impact of our operations in Welwyn Garden City, so we can implement an effective action plan. Details will be published here shortly (Justin, consider getting local authority support with this, free advice and audits may be available. The suggestions may be as simple as reviewing energy supplier, changing light bulbs, installing e/v charging point, improving on-site waste management and recycling efforts) Just showing you are being proactive and working towards realistic goals is enough.
