#Carbon Neutrality #Japan #Tokyo #climate action #Blue Bottle Coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee Achieves Carbon Neutrality in 2024

Blue Bottle Coffee has officially announced its accomplishment of carbon neutrality for the year 2024, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing climate action initiatives. The company aims to further promote regenerative agriculture throughout its coffee supply chain and push for innovation at its sourcing locations, evolving the future of coffee.

The organization successfully reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 18% compared to the baseline year of 2018. To offset any remaining emissions, high-quality carbon removal credits focused on nature-based climate action were purchased, showcasing the company's commitment to a sustainable future.

CEO Karl Strovink stated, "Achieving carbon neutrality is not only a landmark for us but also an obligation we must fulfill. This accomplishment illustrates what can be achieved when we collaborate with clear objectives. However, what's more crucial is our focus on the direction we must take next. This includes supporting regenerative agriculture and enhancing producers' access to climate-resilient coffee varieties. We also aim to establish the importance of coffee species beyond Arabica in the specialty coffee sector. Through these approaches, we aspire to build a shared future for coffee."

The success in achieving carbon neutrality reflects the results of three years of efforts to reduce the climate impact per unit of sales. The company accomplished this in various categories, including:
1. Green Coffee (Raw Beans): Implemented procurement improvements leading to a 20% reduction in emissions per unit in this major source of GHG emissions.
2. Dairy Products: Introduced plant-based milk options as standard without additional charges, reducing milk-related emissions in cafes by 16%.
3. Electricity: Utilized renewable energy in the U.S. and mainland China, Hong Kong, resulting in a 66% reduction in emissions per unit from global electricity usage.
4. Overheads: Implemented remote and hybrid work structures in the U.S., cutting commute-related emissions by 8%.
5. Waste: Through composting, recycling, and energy recovery initiatives, the company aims to achieve minimal emissions by 2024.

In light of this achievement, Blue Bottle Coffee will focus on contributing to a more sustainable and vibrant future for coffee. Specific efforts include expanding regenerative agriculture in the coffee supply chain, introducing a more diverse coffee menu, and engaging in industry initiatives for the development of climate-adaptive new varieties.

The company has collaborated with four key sustainability consultants and suppliers to jointly formulate plans for transitioning to regenerative agriculture tailored to regional characteristics. The initial effort is set to launch in southern Peru in 2026. This program aims to restore soil health, enhance carbon sequestration capabilities of soil and plants, and develop pathways to realize living wages for producers and agricultural workers.

Blue Bottle Coffee also plans to continue its participation in industry collaborations to scale these initiatives. As climate change accelerates, the company remains dedicated to maintaining and promoting genetic diversity in coffee. Currently, it sponsors commercial pre-testing farms in the World Coffee Research (WCR) F1 Hybrid Program, aimed at developing next-generation varieties well-suited to climate change with high productivity.

In addition to focusing on diversity beyond Arabica, Blue Bottle Coffee is scheduled to conduct an Asian tour of the "Blue Bottle Studio" in 2025. This program will feature a special menu composed solely of coffee varieties other than Arabica, including Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta.

By releasing its first Robusta blend in 2023, the company has made a significant turn in the definition of specialty coffee, which has traditionally centered on Arabica. Through these initiatives, Blue Bottle Coffee aims not only to deliver new coffee experiences to its guests but also to contribute to establishing a more diverse and sustainable coffee supply chain that is resilient to climate conditions.

"As climate change increasingly transforms coffee production practices, we are attempting to reconstruct these practices within the framework of regenerative agriculture. This method has the potential to benefit agricultural land and local communities while evolving the very future of coffee," Strovink emphasized.

For further details, including summaries from third-party lifecycle assessments and Blue Bottle’s carbon credit registration information, please visit: Blue Bottle Coffee.

About Blue Bottle Coffee

Founded in 2002 by James Freeman in Oakland, California, Blue Bottle Coffee offers high-quality specialty coffee sourced from around the world, roasted in-house, and brewed with meticulous care to provide an excellent coffee experience. Driven by a commitment to quality and sustainability, the company believes that "delicious coffee enhances the beauty of life." Currently, there are over 100 cafes in the U.S. and Asia (including Japan, Korea, Shanghai, and Hong Kong). More information can be found on the Blue Bottle Coffee official online store and social media channels.