VIBES Award: Vision in Business Scotland - Best Small Business Award

Highlights

  • Are B Corp certified, Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) accredited, Organic certified and 1% of the Planet certified.
  • Monitor suppliers’ engagement in sustainability.
  • Identified how to support customers in disposing of packaging.
  • Have a circular waste management approach, working with wholesale customers and local community gardens.
  • Donate the money from the sale of coffee sacks to GirlsGottaRun, in Ethiopia.
  • Founded the Glasgow Coffee Festival. Kick started the first meeting of Women in Specialty Coffee events.
Sponsored by: University of Stirling Management School
Download the winners' story Watch the winners' story

Dear Green Coffee Roasters source and roast high quality specialty coffee from across the globe right here in Glasgow. Working alongside trusted partners, we put transparency, traceability & sustainability at the heart of not only our sourcing, but also our core values. 

Following their B-Corp certification in 2020, they formalised their company strategy to be defined by three pillars: Product, People and Planet. They are committed to reduce their emissions and become net zero by 2030. 

Through their procurement policy, they monitor their supplier’s environmental engagement and improve customer relationships. They believe collaboration is key to improving freight emissions, packaging waste reduction and more for their supply chain. They engage with their customers to identify how they can support them in disposing of their packaging and coffee grounds.

Pioneered in creating the first Single-use cup free coffee festival, this saves over 30,000 cups from landfill every year, which avoids 1105.32kg/CO2e. They continue to revise their packaging and have succeeded in sourcing a coffee package which is not only manufactured in the UK but is fully recyclable by every local authority in the UK, while encouraging for customers to re-use it first. 

Dear Green Coffee Roasters have a travel policy which require all staff member to justify their travels in order to minimise emissions. Any supplier must be in a region of 200 miles from their company main address. 

As a woman-owned business, they are truly passionate about connecting women in the industry. They donate 1% of their revenue for the Planet and 1% to social causes. They donate to a number of different charities and projects to give back to the community.

Being commended for the Vision in Business Scotland – Best Small Business award is a dream come true for us. For a small business like ours which is not in the sustainable field to be recognised for good environmental practices really makes receiving this award even more fulfilling and hopefully demonstrates that green practices are achievable and can result in successes and recognition such as this! The whole team is proud and grateful to be recognised for our commitment and hard work in getting here. Next step is Net Zero, in line with Scotland's target! Lisa Lawson, Founder, and spokesperson Martha Bytof, Sustainability Coordinator

The Vision in Business Scotland Award recognises organisations that best demonstrate “what’s good for the 
environment is also good for business”. The subcategory is for Best Small Business (less than 50 employees).