Chimney Fire Coffee – Local B Corp

What is a B Corp?

B Corp™ is a sustainability certification given out by global non-profit organisation B Lab. The instantly recognisable Certified B Corp™ logo is only given out to companies who have the highest social and environmental standards, transparency, and accountability. It is a requirement for their mission to be baked into the legal charter of a brand. 

Our mission statement is…

To learn more about our mission and our objectives as a business, check out our 2022-2023 Impact Report. 

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

As we celebrate the achievements of women in coffee, it is important to highlight that diversity & inclusion are pillars of the B Corp™ movement. 

People are the most important part of any business, and at Chimney Fire Coffee we’re extremely fortunate to have a diverse team of coffee, marketing, supply chain, manufacturing, and sustainability professionals, all with similar values.

We are a team of eight permanent, salaried staff with a 50/50 female/male split. Both of our coffee roasters are female, which is significantly above the industry average of 24%. And not forgetting the most important member of our team, Barkley! 

Why does B Corp Matter?

In the world of coffee there can be a lot of noise made about sustainability and ethics, but when push comes to shove it can be hard to see who is being honest and who is not. 

Greenwashing is becoming a major issue across the world, and respected certifications such as B Corp™ ultimately make it easier for consumers to choose where and how they spend their money. 

By being transparent in their values and rigorous in their assessments, B Corp™ and other global movements such as 1% for the Planet aim to break the cycle of irresponsible corporate practices – or to quote their own tag line, to use business as a force for good.  

How did we become a B Corp?

Our Founder Dan says, 

Initiatives such as our Odds & Ends Blend contributed to our successful application. By buying this sustainability-focused product, you are helping us reduce waste by drinking coffee that would otherwise be thrown away. 

Do you own a business, or are you interested in learning more about the how and why of B Corp™? Join us for The Journey to Better Business event at the Surrey University Institute of Sustainability on 27th March – book your free ticket now, and we’ll see you there!

What’s the Impact?

As B Corp™ Month draws to a close, we want to take a look at one of the many challenges coffee producers face today: fluctuating market prices, which can sometimes be lower than the cost of production. 

Our solution to this is to buy coffee directly from the producers themselves, agreeing the price directly and building a long-term partnership. Buying coffee this way helps us understand what the producer needs, and more money gets back to those who actually grow it.

We always pay at least double the Fairtrade base price for all of our coffee, committing to giving growers a sustainable source of income which we hope will grow over time. 

Fazenda Sertão in Carmo de Minas, Brazil, is the producer of our most popular coffee. Learn more about our relationship and our positive impact in our blog Spotlight On: Brazil Signature Espresso. 

Author
Sam Pierce
Community Manager
Chimney Fire Coffee Ltd