To become certified, B Lab evaluates a company’s performance in five core areas of its business: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers, certifying companies that meet high standards of social and environmental impact.
While we aren’t perfect as a small business, since buying our first bag of coffee in 1993, we have tried to make the “right” decisions by our suppliers in coffee-producing countries, our customers, our staff, and the environment. Often, we internally discuss what it means to “expand our circle of good.” We believe that company growth allows us to pay higher premiums to farmers, invest in more innovative projects at origin, and better support small and medium-sized roasters across the planet.
This certification is an opportunity to provide concrete documentation and accountability of our focus to do more good in our industry than harm. The B Corp theme in 2023 is “We Go Beyond,” which is incredibly fitting for our company, whose core value is to increase the quality of life for all those involved in coffee, from tree to cup. The specialty coffee industry is delicate. Smallholder farmers, who are often economically disadvantaged, battle environmental challenges and economic uncertainty from the C market. In recent years, multinational interest has been attracted to our sector and, with their resources, create a very convincing façade of specialty coffee. Small farmers ultimately stand the most to lose. Paying more for specialty coffee is more important than ever, paving a path toward a higher quality of life for coffee farmers and roasters.
During the B Corp certification process, we examined our coffee-buying practices, environmental impact, internal benefits, and services. We can say, without question, that we are a better company due to the work done to achieve this certification, which is far more important than bearing the cute little B logo. We have more work to do, though.
We strive to be a resilient and conscious company, contributing to a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative coffee supply chain. We are proud to be part of a global community mobilizing for the benefit of all.