Eco-commerce

Eco-commerce reflects our awareness of how limited the world’s resources are and the continual frustration we experience as a small company in being able to reduce our environmental footprint. Here are some areas we continually review, some more successfully than others, which is where we need your help. If you know of ways in which we can improve we’re ready to listen. Sustainability isn’t something other people do; it’s something we should all do.

Coffee – Although we are a Fairtrade licensee, and therefore sell coffee with the “FAIRTRADE” mark, this for me isn’t sufficient. We have moved on from this position to now carry sustainable coffee that comes from farms using other certifiers, namely Rainforest Alliance and Utz Kapeh. The farm that has most impressed me recently is “Daterra” in Brazil (see my web video). They have spent a small fortune developing their farm to the point where sustainability has become a way of life. They not only talk the talk, but they also walk the walk.In January 2009 I visited Colombia and met Camilo the owner of Santuario Farm in Popayan. He has decided not to join any certification programme but instead invites coffee roasters like me to visit his farm and see for ourselves his efforts to create a sustainable future for all. For a discussion on Fairtrade issues on the ground in Colombia see my web video.   

Tea - In the past I've been a critic of the selection of “Fairtrade certified” teas that have been offered to me. The range available has now significantly increased and the quality is now as good as anything on the market. We have yet to develop an "own label" Fairtrade certified tea and it is a gap in our offer that we intend to fill. The tea selection we do offer comes from businesses that are members of the Ethicalteapartnership.org. Although not familiar to many outside of the trade they are a partnership that is sensitive to ethical and sustainable issues in tea. Our classic English Breakfast tea comes from a member of the  Ethicalteapartnership.org and truly outstanding.

Packaging – To ensure that the products we sell stay fresh we have out of necessity to use high levels of barrier packaging, not exactly bio-degradable! I’ve only seen biodegradable foils once in our field in the last decade, if anybody out there knows any better please get in touch.

Vehicles – At the moment we use a traditional petrol van for our Island deliveries. Despite looking recently at an electric alternative, the capital costs are still prohibitive and for a business like ours the infrastructure on Jersey is still some way short of ideal. Bio-diesel may be the next step, but again due to the size of the local market, providers of this product will struggle with the large set-up costs without wider Government support.

Roasting plant – One of the ironies in this business is that in an attempt to clean up your act, you can actually do more damage to the environment than you were doing before. Around 5 years ago we were forced to put an “after-burner” on our roasting chimney, so that any particulate produced by the roasting process was burnt up prior to leaving the premises. This has meant that not only has our gas bill doubled, but so too have our CO2 emissions. Thankfully a single burner roaster is available on the market and it is our intention to make this one of our next major investments. We still though send an awful lot of hot air out into the atmosphere without making any attempt to reuse the heat. I have contacted a number of companies over the years all of whom appear interested at the start, but soon loose interest when it comes to actually doing something. If you think that you can help please contact us.

By-products – Cardboard, Hessian sacks and husks, more landfill material or can they be reused?
The good news is that the Constable of St. Helier has recently got agreeement from Parishoners to start an on-street recycling scheme. I for one can't wait to get involved. Our Hessian sacks are already put to good use. The Jersey Zoo, and the local stray cat society both find uses but supply still outstrips demand and we're constantly on the look-out for alternative uses.

Husks – We have yet to find a good way to recycle these dry “skins” that come off in the roasting process. Got a good idea?, then contact us.