Löfbergs becomes Europe’s first large coffee roaster with ROC®-certified coffee

Löfbergs is the first large coffee roaster in Europe to launch ROC®-certified coffee. On International Coffee Day, 1 October, Löfbergs Honduras will be introduced at Strawberry hotels across the Nordics, making it possible for even more people to enjoy coffee that contributes to restoring nature. At the same time, Löfbergs and Strawberry are launching a joint project in Peru to help more coffee farmers transition to regenerative agriculture.

Coffee production is increasingly affected by climate change, depleted soils and declining biodiversity. For Löfbergs, the next step in its sustainability work is therefore about going beyond reducing negative impact.

– For us, ROC® is an important next step in our sustainability work. It is not only about reducing our impact, but also about contributing to restoring nature and creating better conditions for more sustainable coffee production. By joining forces with Strawberry, we can reach more consumers, while the project in Peru is a concrete example of how we are investing in solutions that strengthen both the future of coffee and opportunities for coffee farmers, says Kajsa-Lisa Ljudén, Head of Sustainability at Löfbergs.

Regenerative Organic Certified, ROC®, builds on organic farming and sets additional requirements for practices that improve soil health, increase biodiversity and work towards living wages throughout the supply chain.

Honduras – organic, Fairtrade and ROC®-certified
The new coffee is called Löfbergs Honduras and is part of Löfbergs’ speciality coffee range. It is a balanced Arabica coffee with notes of milk chocolate, honey and forest berries. The beans are grown at altitudes of 1,100–1,900 metres by members of the Cafico cooperative in Honduras. The coffee is triple certified: organic, Fairtrade and ROC®.

Joining forces with Strawberry to drive change
Since 2014, Strawberry has required its coffee to be dual-certified, organic and Fairtrade. Now, together with Löfbergs, the hotel group is taking the next step by introducing ROC®-certified coffee at its hotels across the Nordics throughout the autumn.

"For sustainability efforts to make a real difference, we need to take responsibility where our impact is greatest. At Strawberry, we purchase large volumes of coffee from countries including Honduras and Peru, and through our long-standing partnership with Löfbergs, we're now taking a decisive step forward. The fact that our coffee from Honduras is now ROC®-certified shows that change is possible, and by simultaneously launching a joint project in Peru, we're helping even more farmers transition to regenerative agriculture. It's a great example of how we build long-term relationships and improve conditions throughout the supply chain," says Ingrid Håvik, Head of Responsible Procurement at Strawberry.

Joint project in Peru to help more farmers transition
Löfbergs and Strawberry are also launching a joint project together with the Peruvian coffee cooperative La Prosperidad de Chirinos.

The project will fund the expansion and mechanisation of fertiliser production at the cooperative. Access to high-quality organic fertiliser will give more coffee farmers better opportunities to transition to regenerative agriculture and achieve ROC® certification. According to the cooperative’s trial plots, the methods can also increase yields by 10–15 per cent.

For Löfbergs, the project is a concrete example of how the company wants to work going forward – combining certified coffee with investments that enable more farmers to make the transition.

Löfbergs started buying organic coffee more than 30 years ago, and has since become one of the most progressive coffee companies in Europe when it comes to sustainability. The move into ROC coffee is part of Löfbergs’ long-term commitment to climate action, responsible sourcing and resilient coffee communities.

What does the Regenerative Organic Certified® certification mean?

• Requires that the coffee is already organic, but also sets strict requirements for regenerative farming methods.
• Requires concrete measures such as cover crops, composting, and reduced tillage to increase the soil's carbon storage, strengthen biodiversity, and secure stable harvests.
• Works to ensure fair working conditions and that growers achieve an actual living wage.
• Requires that the buyer is audited by ROC® and reports on long-term business relationships and fair compensation to the cooperatives.

Read more about ROC® here.