Ecotone, a producer of organic and plant-based food, has recently unveiled what the company asserts to be the largest 100% organic coffee and tea facility in Europe.
The company, which possesses brands in seven different countries, has introduced La Caféière with a €10 million investment in response to the increasing need for high-quality, organic hot beverages.
Supported by funding from the European Union and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, La Caféière is a crucial element of Ecotone’s worldwide ‘Food for Biodiversity’ initiative, aimed at achieving the most rigorous environmental and sustainability criteria.
As stated by Ecotone, La Caféière’s roasting smoke burner reduces CO2 emissions by 30% when compared to conventional approaches. The facility is designed to enhance global sustainability standards through the use of green energy, efficient wetland water management, 100% LED lighting, and photovoltaic roof panels, all with the goal of making tea and coffee production as environmentally sustainable as possible.
The facility also adheres to a complete circularity policy, with 85% of all remaining materials being either recycled or repurposed into compost, and the remaining 15% are incinerated with energy recovery.
Ecotone stated that La Caféière’s suppliers engage in agricultural practices that surpass conventional organic standards. These practices encompass the cultivation of diverse plant species within each plot, ensuring fair income for small-scale producers, and active efforts by partner cooperatives to combat deforestation in their respective regions.
Over 60% of La Caféière’s sales will be comprised of Fairtrade certified products moving forward, with a goal to reach a level of over 70% Fair Trade coffee and tea within the next two years. The facility is set to annually produce 100 tonnes of tea and receive 3200 tonnes of organic coffee, resulting in the sale of 5.5 million units of organic coffee each year.
