Löfbergs Sustainability Report: ”Sustainability and competitiveness go hand in hand”

Sustainability is a part of Löfbergs’s DNA, and our sustainability ambitions are just as high as before. It is not just about taking responsibility for people and environment – ambitious sustainability efforts are also an opportunity to create value for our customers and ourselves. I am convinced that a sustainable transition is necessary and crucial for companies that want to be relevant and competitive. We focus on this by driving the development forward and contributing to a more sustainable coffee industry.

The past year has been characterised by great insecurity worldwide, on many levels. Climate change, financial challenges, and geopolitical tensions have had an effect on our entire value chain, from coffee farmer to consumer. And us too, of course. But we have still delivered a stable result, and I am very proud of that. It allows us to keep on investing in sustainability.

Green coffee prices rocketing to record heights is an issue that has been frequently discussed during the past year. Extreme weather in the producing countries resulted in reduced crop yields, while the global coffee consumption increases. We are reminded that coffee is a commodity that requires care, investments, and long-term thinking.

One thing that is positive with the higher prices is that coffee farmers are getting more paid. They can invest in sustainable farming methods, which is good for the environment and future crops. It is a development strengthened by the development projects that we carry out together with others, within the framework of International Coffee Partners and coffee&climate. This kind of effort and industry commitment are important, not least in times when national and international aid is cut down or abolished.

At the same time, there are new laws and directives placing high demands on transparency and traceability. Even though it results in an administrative burden, it advances progress in a positive direction. The European Parliament’s postponement of the implementation of EUDR was also a good thing, as more will have reasonable means to live up to the EU Deforestation Regulation. Our work did not take a break, and with initiatives like Era of We, we can offer important tools that favour us, our suppliers, and our customers.

We continued to take important steps during the past year. We invested in fossil-free sea freight, methods for more climate-smart farming that improve the conditions of the coffee farmers, and continued to further develop packaging with renewable and recyclable materials. The key factor for success here, as in many other contexts, is the collaboration with suppliers, customers, and others. We can find sustainable solutions together, even where our direct influence is limited.

Therefore, I would like to truly thank all my colleagues, our suppliers, our customers, and other partners. We are making a difference thanks to you. Together, we continue to drive a positive change for our industry and the world around us.

Anders Fredriksson
CEO, Löfbergs