Mundo coffee is one of Paulig’s flagship products in terms of sustainability. The whole journey of the coffee bean from tree to coffee cup has been taken into account in the emission calculations.
At Paulig, we believe that all means available are needed to avoid the worst effects of climate change and to make our planet a viable and good place to live in the future. That’s why we’ve started systematic efforts to cut the climate impacts of our coffees in half and in line with our science-based climate targets.
THE FULL LIFE-CYCLE OF COFFEE INCLUDED IN CALCULATIONS
In simplified terms, this is how we achieve carbon neutrality for Mundo coffees: we calculated the total emissions of Mundo coffees from farming to coffee making and the management of packaging waste.
Our primary aim is to reduce emissions at every stage of the value chain. While some of these steps take a few years, climate action cannot wait. So, in addition, the total emissions are offset through Climate Impact Partners (CIP), specialised in climate finance by financing high-quality forestry projects verified according to international standards in our coffee's countries of origin, such as in Colombia and Brazil.
Climate action taken in the countries of origin plays a key role in achieving our goal of halving climate emissions in our value chain. Approximately 70% of coffee’s emissions come from farming in the countries of origin and only a few percent from transport, production and packaging.* The first emission reduction projects with farmers in our most significant areas of origins have already started. However, achieving emission reductions and restoring nature through changes in farming methods requires long-term cooperation, and in some cases it may take several years to measure the impact. Mundo beans come from Fair Trade cooperatives and eventually hundreds of small-holder farmers, so currently measuring farm-level impacts is difficult. Farming and measurement methods are however constantly evolving, so it is important for us to be part of utilising and developing the latest practices regionally. We will gradually expand these projects also to new countries of origin. New projects are currently being planned in the countries of origin of new Mundo coffees, Mexico and Rwanda, launched in 2024.
Over the coming years, we aim to reduce the proportion of offsetting as the projects deliver increasing climate and nature benefits as the climate smart practices will be more broadly adopted in our origin countries.
In addition, we have systematically reduced the climate impact of Mundo coffees in phases for which lower-emission solutions are already available, such as logistics and our own production: Renewable fuels are used in the maritime transport of Mundo coffees, and the coffee products are roasted at our roastery in Vuosaari, which is certified as carbon neutral and where we have been able to reduce emissions by 98% since 2014. More than half of the materials used in Mundo packaging are plant-based and renewable, and their emissions are up to 45% lower than those of traditional fossil-based packaging materials that contain plastic. Carefully designed sustainable packaging is recyclable and it also plays an important role in protecting the product and preventing coffee wastage.
In our carbon-neutral coffee range Mundo, we want to take into account the coffee's climate impact throughout its life-cycle, which is why we have extended the calculations to the home kitchen, i.e. we have included coffee brewing in our carbon footprint calculations. With coffee brewing and package waste management included, the consumer’s share of the total carbon footprint of coffee is nearly one third*.
This kind of product life-cycle-based approach is something you should consider when you wish to determine the carbon footprint difference between two coffee brands in the grocery store. What is included in the calculation? Does the calculation end with the roastery or does it include the brewing of coffee and disposal of the packaging?
YOU CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCING YOUR COFFEE’S EMISSIONS
We aim to encourage action against climate change at home as well. There’s always room for improvement! Here are some tips on how to reduce emissions from your cup of Mundo coffee even further:
- Many of us almost always make more coffee than we end up drinking. It takes a bit of practice to learn how to estimate how much water and coffee you need to make the right amount of right-tasting coffee for your (or your family’s) needs. However, practice makes perfect – eventually, you’ll notice you're not wasting any coffee.
- Switch off the coffee maker immediately after use. This is easy to remember if you've made the right amount of coffee to empty the entire pot.
- Check your electricity contract and, if you haven't already switched to renewable energy, do it now. This will reduce the carbon footprint of coffee brewing almost to zero.
CARBON NEUTRAL MUNDO COFFEE FAMILY IS PART OF OUR SUSTAINABILITY WORK
The sustainability of Mundo coffee is the result of systematic, long-term work. Our goal is that by 2030 we will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from our own operations by 80% and our value chain by 50%. These targets are in line with the emission reductions needed under the 1.5 degree global warming scenario of the Paris Agreement.
Our Mundo coffee family is at the forefront of coffee sustainability, but all Paulig coffees, from Juhla Mokka to the latest innovations, are on the same path towards increased sustainability for the well-being of the planet and people.
* Source: Paulig has investigated the carbon footprint of its coffee together with researchers at the Finnish Natural Resources Institute (Luke). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of coffee chain was executed for Paulig according to ISO 14040 and 14044 standards (2006). https://www.pauliggroup.com/news/study-almost-30-percent-of-the-climate-impact-of-coffee-comes-from-the-home-kitchen’