Climate Change, Environmental Stewardship and Social Responsibility
At Java Original Coffee we, and our global subsidiaries, believe that our approach to environmental stewardship matters. We understand that the global agricultural sector is a significant contributor to climate change. Hence, our focus is on minimizing and managing both direct and indirect business activities on the climate and the natural environment. In this approach, sustainable land use and conservation are essential.
As part of this approach, our conservation and biodiversity initiatives, including our commitment to 'no-deforestation' is a standard applicable to our own operations as well as operations of smallholder suppliers. Furthermore, we are dedicated to reducing the environmental footprint of our operations - from plantation operations to processing to (international) transport and distribution - through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP) and risk-based impact mitigation strategies designed to effectively reduce our carbon footprint, manage climate-related risks and enhance the resilience of our production systems, including the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Commitment to sustainable land use
Coffee cultivation is highly sensitive to temperature and rainfall. As a result, the cultivation of coffee is vulnerable to geographic shifts in response to a climate change. In turn, this could lead to the establishment of coffee plantations in new areas causing potential conflicts with other land use, including natural forest, with implications for biodiversity and ecosystem. Furthermore, many of the current and future potential coffee growing areas are located on designated forest land adding to the risk that the potential displacement of coffee cultivation to higher altitudes may become a driver of deforestation. As part of our corporate 'responsible plantation policy' (RPR), Java Original Coffee and our global subsidiaries as well as operations of smallholder suppliers are adhering to government policies designed to guide the potential relocation of coffee farming areas to suitable areas. Hence, we are committed to:
- Ensuring that the development of new coffee plantations does not take place in High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, High Carbon Stock (HCS) forrest or other fragile land areas. As part of this commitment, an integrated land use assessment will be conducted for land use areas under the company's concession as well as areas managed by our subsidiaries and smallholder suppliers;
- Ongoing assessments to include monitoring and and verifying that any land use change is adequate verified and that all land development plans are located in permitted areas in accordance with management plans duly approved by regional and local governments;
- Collaborate with national and international (environmental and government) agencies assessing and confirming that any land under cultivation or land set aside for plantation development and under the company's concession as well as areas managed by our subsidiaries and smallholder suppliers is not on land that is the result of illegal deforestation activities;
- Reduce deforestation and reverse land degradation, adhere to, and collaborate with REDD+ framework ( ‘Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in Developing countries') initiatives and standards.
- Restore the ecosystem and value of any areas impacted by our own operations as well as those from our subsidiaries and smallholder suppliers should deforestation or conversion be identified.
Roasting coffee is an energy intensive process, using a significant amount of energy. This contributes to the overall environmental footprint of coffee production. Java Original Coffee has implemented a more energy-efficient roasting method to help reduce this environmental impact.
Shipping and Transportation
Coffee beans are often transported long distances to consumer markets. This results in greenhouse gas emissions caused by transportation. Java Original Coffee is committed to select sustainable shipping practices designed to help mitigate this environmental impact.
Social Responsibility
Based on our experience in agriculture, we understand that yields can be raised significantly by rejuvenating coffee trees and the adoption of good agricultural practices, with the potential to more than double profits. This understanding is instrumental in our approach to technical and financial support of our smallholder supplier communities and households which is primarily designed yo improve their incomes and food security, as well as increase their investment in land rehabilitation.