CULTIVATION
Cultivation represents the largest part of coffee production’s impact on the climate. This is due to the energy used and to the production process for the artificial fertilisers which are used.
- We exclusively use coffee from sustainability certified farmers, where the impact upon the environment is minimised. The farmers are certified by UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade and/or EU-Organic/KRAV.
- We calculate the carbon footprint of each individual coffee farm all the way down to individual items, with the aim of promoting bean production at farms with the least impact on the climate.
- We plan to increase the volume of organically produced coffee.
EMISSIONS CO2E: 2.15 KG SHARE OF TOTAL: 52%
MILLING
When you process coffee using the washed method, the peel and pulp are removed in a so-called a “pulper” (a drum that functions like a centrifuge). The beans are then placed in water-filled pools and the natural mucilage is fermented away due to the contact with the water. After this, the coffee is washed once more with clean water. We also use the Natural method, where the coffee is sun-dried with the pulp on, and then the peel and dried pulp are removed without the use of water. Only the energy consumption for the water-free pulp is then calculated.
- We calculate the carbon footprint of each individual coffee farm all the way down to individual items, with the aim of promoting bean production at farms with the least impact on the climate.
- Sustainability certified coffee farmers are required to optimise their use of water to reduce waste
- Certified farmers treat their water so it can be reused
- Certified farmers work to reduce their energy consumption
- UTZ certified farms work on reusing the pulp as a natural fertiliser, as ground cover and for biogas plants, with a view to switching to renewable energy sources.
EMISSIONS CO2E: 1.57 KG SHARE OF TOTAL: 38%
TRANSPORT TO ROASTERY
Arvid Nordquist’s raw coffee is transported on large container ships from the producing country to Sweden. The majority of consignments are taken by sea all the way to Stockholm and then the short distance by road to the Arvid Nordquist roastery in Solna. Some consignments are shipped to Gothenburg and, from there, continue by rail to Stockholm. Fully 98% of transport is made by sea and 2% by rail. Arvid Nordquist undertakes to:
- work to reduce the proportion of raw coffee deliveries in sacks
- review and place demands on our transport suppliers to ensure that the most environmentally-friendly fuels and methods of transportation are always used for our incoming transports.
EMISSIONS CO2E: 0.25 KG SHARE OF TOTAL: 6%
ROASTERY
Roasteries impact negatively on the climate through the energy that is used in the form of electricity, district heating, district cooling, liquefied petroleum gas (to heat the roasting machine), the use of pure carbon dioxide (to protect the coffee) and through the use of office equipment. Arvid Nordquist’s roastery has held environmental and quality certification in accordance with ISO 14001 and 22000 since 2003 and we are constantly working to develop our environmental efforts and reduce negative impacts on the environment and climate. For several years, we have been working to reduce our energy consumption and have implemented a number of measures, including switching to energy-saving light bulbs, optimising our ventilation operating times, installing heat exchangers and timer-controlled lighting, and upgrading our server hall. We use electricity suppliers who exploit wind and hydro power, and provide district heating and district cooling, which is powered by biofuel with low greenhouse-gas emissions. We aim to reduce energy consumption in the following ways:
- Arvid Nordquist’s main suppliers must have systematic environmental policies and we encourage them to introduce certified environmental management systems. We prioritise those suppliers who have climate objectives and we document their environmental, climatic and CSR initiatives by conducting supplier assessments at least once every three years.
- Arvid Nordquist is closely following developments in the energy market and we intend to switch to alternative energy sources for the operation of our roastery as soon as these become adequately available. The aim is for at least 50% of the business to be fossil free by 2020.
- We work systematically to reduce the energy consumption of our server management, printers and copiers.
- We will reduce the carbon footprint of our company cars by 25% over a five-year period.
EMISSIONS CO2E: 0.12 KG SHARE OF TOTAL: 3%
TRANSPORT TO RETAILERS
Arvid Nordquist coffee is distributed from the roastery to the warehouse, and then from there to retailers and shops, by road. Arvid Nordquist’s distributors are environmentally certified and have long-term objectives to reduce their impact on climate.
EMISSIONS CO2E: 0.04 KG SHARE OF TOTAL: 1%