Because we love coffee with character.
We take corporate responsibility seriously. Not just the responsibility we have for our customers and coffee drinkers but for our suppliers and producers, too. Coffee often comes from countries that don’t necessarily have the same high environmental-protection and labour standards that Germany does. Knowing this, it is our goal as a company not just to deliver first-class products but to purchase the majority of our coffee from certified sustainable sources.
IFS
We are an IFS-certified company. Certification by International Featured Standards guarantees that our products meet high standards of quality and safety. Regular audits are conducted to ensure that all the requirements are met.
Fairtrade
The independently audited Fairtrade mark stands for fair trade as well as high environmental and climate-protection standards. It empowers small farmers and workers in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Fairtrade promotes better labour and living conditions by requiring the payment of stable minimum prices as well as the “Fairtrade premium” for community projects.
Fair Trade USATM
The Fair Trade label stands for fair trade and thus humane living and working conditions in emerging and developing countries. For our coffee, that means: fair payment, stable minimum prices and high environmental standards. More broadly, we aim to improve the standard of living for coffee farmers and their families. This is why we support stable minimum prices and additional Fair Trade premiums.
Organic
The cultivation and processing of raw coffee takes place according to stringent organic farming requirements (DE-ÖKO-003).
Organic coffee is often also Fairtrade-certified. That means steps are being taken to improve people’s lives as well as protect the environment.
Rainforest Alliance
UTZ and Rainforest are two certification programmes that have now joined forces under the umbrella of the Rainforest Alliance.
By purchasing raw materials certified by the Rainforest Alliance, we are supporting sustainable farming.
Due to availability problems, we will not be able to procure a sufficient quantity of Rainforest Alliance certified Robusta coffee for our products with the Rainforest Alliance seal from the second half of 2024 on. As a result, our coffee products may not or only partially contain Rainforest Alliance-certified Robusta coffees starting from this period. We apologize for the inconvenience. As soon as this shortage is resolved – probably in the second quarter of 2025 – we will again be able to source this coffee from Rainforest Alliance certified farms only.
Rainforest Alliance
Kosher
We are now Kosher-certified (OU) too and can sell kosher coffee.
Processes
Our responsible approach begins with raw materials and also extends to the resources used during production and, of course, to our employees.
ISO 50001
Energy management
Energy management at our locations is certified according to the global standard ISO 50001. This standard, which is based on the management system model of continual improvement, helps us to keep track of our energy use and continually improve our energy management. The most recent example is a combined heat and power unit at our headquarters in Ketsch. It produces the necessary heat for the premises and generates electricity at the same time. It is much more efficient than a conventional power plant.
ISO 14001
Environmental management
The international environmental management standard ISO 14001 provides a framework for environmental management systems within companies. Its objective – and our objective – is to continually improve processes, such as those aimed at reducing waste or increasing the use of recyclable materials, and to minimise environmental impact.