Taking Root & the Carbon, Coffee and Climate Initiative

Bean North has been working on reducing our carbon footprint since 2012. Taking Root is a pioneer in leveraging the forest carbon offset industry to promote economic development amongst smallholder farmers in Central America. As a not for profit, its mission is to use reforestation as a tool to mitigate climate change, restore ecosystems and improve livelihoods. This is achieved by encouraging smallholder-farming families to reforest the underutilized parts of their farms using native tree species in exchange for direct payments over time as the trees sequester carbon from the atmosphere. These carbon sequestration services are then marketed and sold in several western countries. Bean North Coffee has used their carbon credits to offset our coffee roasting greenhouse gas emissions. We're excited to be part of Taking Root's initiative to promote CO2 responsible products and services. Listen to an interview Bean North owner Michael had with CBC North - Airplay in 2012.

In 2017, Cooperative Coffees launched the Carbon, Coffee and Climate Initiative which involves quantifying its carbon footprint and funding carbon reduction initiatives within its supply chain. All Cooperative Coffees’ roaster members pay an extra 3 cents per pound to the cost of all green coffee purchases. This money funds the Initiative. Our producing partners in Latin America, Africa, and Asia have the opportunity to apply for project funding from this Initiative. The focus is on project-work that encourages reforestation, soil regeneration, and experimentation and learning about other “carbon-capture enhancing” practices. It also would include complementary actions that contribute towards greater environmental balance in producer communities.

The first annual report by Cooperative Coffees Impact Committee states: "Calculating and tracking our collective carbon footprint and contributing a corresponding amount as a voluntary “carbon-tax” into our producer support fund, links us to a broader conversation around climate justice. Our launching priorities have focused on project-work that encourages reforestation, soil regeneration, and experimentation and learning about other “carbon-capture” and “productivity enhancing” practices. With the Carbon, Climate and Coffee initiative, we hope to create a positive example of how our industry could become regenerative. And investing with our partners to support carbon-sequestering practices and other innovative, environmental-service projects within organic agriculture, contributes to the health and sustainable development in producer communities, while strengthening our direct connections across our supply chain."