Our journey towards calculating and reducing our carbon footprint has been full of unexpected challenges and learnings, and we recognise that it is far from over. That said, we have learnt a lot and feel more passionate than ever at continuing in this fashion! While we continue working towards further reductions, we are excited to share a recent milestone—we have offset our Scope 1 and 2 emissions for 2021-2024, and we’ve done so in partnership with Cencoic, one of our long-term producer partners.
We approached carbon offsetting with careful consideration, fully aware of the scepticism surrounding it. Our goal was to ensure that this was not just a symbolic gesture but a meaningful action supporting long-term sustainability. Therefore, on top of offsetting our Scope 1 and 2 we have also taken measures to reduce it.
For us, Scopes 1 and 2 are a relatively small part of our footprint as they only cover the emissions created from the day-to-day running of our offices. Scope 3, which includes emissions from the supply chain, transportation, and other indirect sources is where most of our footprint lies as you can see below. Although calculating this has proven to be far from easy, it is something we are working on, and you will hear more about it later this year!
DRW Carbon 2022
Why We Chose Cencoic for Carbon Offsetting
When it came to how and where we would offset these emissions we found there was an infinite number of possibilities! Rather than choosing a generic scheme, we sought a project that aligns with our values and contributes meaningfully to the coffee supply chain. This is when we discovered that one of our long-term partners, Cencoic ( a cooperative based in Cauca, Colombia ), developed a CRU program. This appealed to us as it meant we could further support and invest in the supply chain and add further value for Cencoic. Moreover, the impact of climate change within the coffee supply chain is felt most keenly at origin, with changing weather patterns already wrecking devastating havoc on crops, threatening farmers’ livelihoods.
Cencoic are a cooperative founded by, and comprising of, indigenous communities from the Cauca region. It’s a region that has experienced much unrest and armed conflict over the years. During a more stable time Cencoic was formed and began to flourish. Although in recent times unrest is returning again. In 2024 the region became dangerous again, with armed groups of rebels forming. Part of what Cencoic do is to run a youth inclusion program to help young people get out of the world of narco trafficking through growing coffee. In short, they have many challenges to contend with, and us as DRWakefield wish to support them the best we can since we began working together in 2008. So once we knew Cencoic had a CRU program, it was a no-brainer for us to offset with them.
Once we committed to partnering with Cencoic, we worked together to get their program verified by Rabobank, a financial institution that works with a lot of coffee cooperatives in the supply chain, and have a platform called Acorn, where they offer the opportunity to offset your emissions with projects across the world that have been 3rd party verified. Going through Rabobank has meant that not only can we purchase CRUs from Cencoic, but the opportunity is there for others to do the same from them.
Priscilla Daniel, DRW Trader, visiting Cencoic in 2024
How the Project Works
The project is run through Solidaridad Colombia, a local NGO with over 50 years of experience working to develop sustainable and inclusive supply chains. Their role is crucial in helping smallholder farmers transition to agroforestry systems, which integrate coffee cultivation with a diverse range of crops and trees. This project aims to enable smallholder farmers to increase the quality and yield of their farms, to in turn help them to earn a living income and to adapt their land into an agroforestry system. Agroforestry is a system where all sorts of crops and trees are grown together, as they would in the wild, to produce a biodiverse environment. This improves the soil health and creates a more sustainable way of growing than a monoculture, meaning the farmer will have a steadier harvest and, therefore, a more sustainable income year on year. An additional benefit is to the farmers’ health through eating a more diverse range of produce that they’ve grown, but also being able to afford better food through the additional income.
The collaboration between Cencoic and Solidaridad began in 2018, with the first trees being planted in 2019, and every subsequent year. The project now has now grown to over 2500 ha of land being planted with trees for agroforestry. As an incentive to get farmers on board with the project, they are offered carbon credits for the trees they plant. Without the support of Solidaridad and the money they receive from selling CRUs, it is unlikely that these farmers would be able to afford to create their own agroforestry systems. Solidaridad also offer training and advise to participating farmers, through hiring local agronomists, to ensure their system is as long-term sustainable as possible. This advice includes things like what trees will work best for them, depending on their land and the crops they already grow. This training would very likely be too expensive for a farmer to get from seeking an agronomist’s advice themselves. Of the money raised through the selling of CRUs, 90% of it goes directly to the farmers involved, with the rest covering the costs of running the project.
The project is going from strength to strength, and we hope it will continue to grow through the support of selling CRUs through Acorn. Supporting Cencoic’s CRU project is just one part of our journey, and we are dedicated to continuously improving our approach to carbon responsibility.
Cencoic
What’s Next?
Offsetting Scope 1 and 2 emissions is just one step in our broader sustainability strategy. As we move forward, Scope 3 emissions will be our primary focus, and we are exploring the best methodologies for accurate measurement and reduction across our supply chain.
Glossary
There are a few different players involved in this project at different stages so here is a quick glossary or who’s who!
Cencoic – A cooperative in Colombia and long-term partner of DRW. They set up the project in collaboration with Solidaridad Colombia.
Solidaridad Colombia – A local NGO that has been working on this project with Cencoic since 2018. They offer the technical support on the ground for the project.
Rabobank – A bank which works with many coffee cooperatives across the supply chain. They also work across many other industries.
Acorn – Rabobank’s platform for verifying and selling CRUs. Including those from Cencoic / Solidaridad which DRW bought, although more of these are available for purchase.
DRWakefield – That’s us! We’re an independent green coffee importer based in London and Amsterdam. We’re family-run and have been operating since 1970. Although if you’re reading this you probably know us already!
