TERRES DE CAFÉ OBTAINS THE "ENGAGED CSR" LABEL AT THE "CONFIRMED" LEVEL AWARDED BY AFNOR
As a committed company that respects the interests of its stakeholders, Terres de Café has demonstrated its commitment by obtaining the "Engagé RSE" label issued by the French Standards Agency (AFNOR). This label guarantees Terres de Café's commitment to sustainable and ethical practices.
A GLOBAL, DEMANDING AND CONCRETE APPROACH
Since its creation by Christophe Servell in 2009, the company has opted for a global purchasing policy for its coffees. 100% of the coffees offered by Terres de Café are traceable and sustainable. To guarantee this, a significant proportion of the company's in-house resources are mobilized, and Terres de Café relies on reliable partners in each production region. In particular, we work closely with Belco, France's leading importer of specialty coffee.
Terres de café also sets high standards in defining the term "sustainable". By committing to producers, with long-term commercial partnerships that enable a real impact on practices at the start of the supply chain, and the guarantee necessary for investments to transform and perpetuate coffee production and processing methods for a supply chain that respects the environment and human communities.
So that what has always been the cornerstone of the company's strategy is clearly stated and continues to set the course for the coming years.
THE VISION OF CHRISTOPHE SERVELL, FOUNDER OF TERRES DE CAFÉ
"For a long time I was wary of certifications and labels. This was reinforced by my travels to producer countries and my encounters with farmers whose reality is far removed from the green washing practised by agri-food companies. Refusing to give in to the adage that "labels are worse than conventional", I have always set my own standards, choosing my partners not only for the quality of their coffee, but also for the way they run their plantations without inputs, while respecting the biotope, and the place they give to their employees and seasonal workers.
During my visits to producing countries, I've always been careful to ask questions and check out the plantations and the working conditions, housing and access to healthcare for employees, as well as education.
Christophe Servell at Dukale's brothers house in Ethiopia with Romain Alimoradian, Pierre de Chantérac and Michael Loos.
Crédit photo : Fabrice Leseigneur
I've discovered that there are many ways to build the sustainability of a coffee farm, and that it would be presumptuous of me to impose my vision as a white Western man. Parameters such as the geographical, climatic and political situation, as well as the history of the plantation itself, the damage it may have suffered before conversion, access to water and energy. Each case is unique and doomed to impermanence. It requires determination, pugnacity and humanity. Meetings, discussions and the sharing of knowledge are essential elements in achieving this.
Since then, I've evolved, and with experience and wisdom, I've mellowed and become more aware of the importance of establishing the contours of an approach in order to guarantee the veracity of information in the Wild West of green washing. Even so, I remain skeptical and sometimes very angry when I see certain companies claiming to contribute to the preservation of the planet, when in fact they are the ones monopolizing resources and destroying ecosystems and communities.
At a time of global warming, protecting the environment and restoring land damaged by decades of intensive farming is a global issue, as are reforestation and access to quality drinking water. With Terres de Café, I intend to play my part, on my own scale and with my own means. This is the raison d'être of my company. And it's also the only way to continue to be able to grow and consume coffee.
As a committed company that respects the interests of its stakeholders, Terres de Café is giving concrete expression to this commitment by obtaining the Engagé RSE label, based on the issues defined in ISO 26 000, and issued by the Agence Française de Normalisation (AFNOR). This label will enable us to guarantee to our customers, suppliers and employees that we are committed and that we adopt sustainable and ethical practices."
THE CHOICE OF AFNOR
Already a FairTrade/Max Havelaar label holder, Terres de Café chose AFNOR's Engagé RSE label for its demanding verification process, which goes beyond simple self-declaration.
More than 50 criteria are examined in accordance with ISO 26000 standards over several days of auditing at all the company's sites, with employees and external stakeholders (customers, suppliers, partners, etc.). By entrusting an independent assessor with objective proof of the social, environmental and economic impact of its activities, Terres de Café is challenging its own approach to continuous improvement.
At the end of this process, which took more than a year and a half to formalize, but also to take the necessary action on certain points, Terres de Café was awarded the "Committed to CSR" label at the "Confirmed" level.