Blue
Bottle Coffee sets a plan for Carbon Neutrality By 2024
Blue Bottle Coffee, based in Oakland, California, which is majority owned by Nestlé
since 2017, is committed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2024. This extends to
the entire brand, in the United States and Asia, and from coffee and ingredient
sourcing to guest-use and end-of-life greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for
product and packaging. Blue Bottle will attain carbon neutrality for its GHG
emissions first by reducing as much as possible—including through work with
coffee producers to sustain and expand regenerative agricultural practices—then
by supporting carbon removal and high-quality offsetting projects for unabated
GHG emissions.
It
is a significant next step for the company towards the brand's long-term
sustainability goals of leading the food service industry in the boldest, most
comprehensive waste and GHG emissions reduction movement.
This
year, the company focused efforts to reduce GHG emissions across four key
areas: coffee sourcing, electricity, dairy, and waste. The company also
committed to help scale regenerative agriculture as part of its 2024 carbon
neutrality target. Blue Bottle made a multi-year commitment to purchase the
first available high-quality, registry-certified agricultural carbon credits.
Produced by Carbon by Indigo, these credits support U.S. farmers transitioning
from conventional practices toward more beneficial agriculture.
In
2022 the company will publish its accelerated roadmap to achieving carbon
neutrality by 2024.
"Since
our founding in 2002, sustainability has been a core value at Blue Bottle.
Sustainability for us means caring for people and planet," said Karl
Strovink, CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee. "We are steadfast in providing guests
with the highest quality coffee and cafe experience without the need to
compromise on our values."
In
2020, Blue Bottle held true to the commitment of compensating for the
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with its e-commerce business on
orders shipped throughout the United States.
This
next major milestone of carbon neutrality by 2024 will involve fundamental
changes to Blue Bottle's business operations and partnerships with suppliers.
During the past year, Blue Bottle has taken the following actions:
Coffee Sourcing: Blue Bottle is completing
its first round of sustainability audits across the majority of its coffee
purchasing. Audit reports will assist Blue Bottle in integrating climate
targets into its work with coffee suppliers.
Electricity: Blue Bottle reduced GHG
emissions associated with its electricity usage first in the United States and
Japan by purchasing renewable energy certificates for a portion of cafes and
one production site.
Dairy: Blue Bottle led the change to
introduce oat milk in its Asia markets, having long offered oat milk at no
extra charge in U.S. cafes. In June 2021, test cafes in Northern and Southern
California markets invoked oat milk as the default in milk-based drinks for
in-cafe and mobile orders, resulting in 8% less cow's milk use in these cafes.
Waste: Blue Bottle is on track to achieve
zero waste operations for half its U.S. cafes by the end of 2021, with a goal
of reaching all U.S. cafes by 2023. This target requires cafes to divert 90% of
their waste from landfill, incineration, or the environment. Blue Bottle's
Jackson Square cafe opened this spring with zero waste operations, reaching a
98% diversion rate in its first month. In 2022, Blue Bottle will scale zero
waste operations to its U.S. production sites and begin implementation in Asia.
"We
invite guests to join us in forging positive change—from wasting less and
reusing more to adopting new product offerings with lower environmental
footprints—we are committed to accelerating progress but cannot do this
alone," said Strovink. "We hope our guests will join us in taking
bold steps on climate action, one cup of coffee and one day at a time."