SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE

Coffee Bags

Packaging is obviously a huge part of the coffee story and we want to be consistent in following through with our values of sustainability and transparency. It has been the most enlightening, frustrating and challenging part of our journey with coffee so far, which, from looking to colleagues in the coffee world is sadly not an unusual experience. We have always tried to use the most up to date, environmentally friendly packaging for our beans and our takeaway cups but after over a year of research and exploration, resulting in boxes of samples and a few false starts, we have realised the effectiveness of sustainable packaging is by no means clear cut. Many make claims to being fully compostable, but sometimes this is not accurate as it depends on many variables such as the viability of home composting and availability of industrial composting. As it is important for us that our customers are not disappointed in the way we package our product, we have returned to a fully recyclable paper that maintains a high level of aroma and that can be processed by local council waste departments around the UK and Europe.

Takeaway Cups

Takeaway cups are another difficult issue as to retain hot liquid over a long period, there needs to be some form of lining and there are no cups on the market that are fully recyclable. We have therefore chosen to be plastic free and use home compostable takeaway products. In our local area, a high percentage of people home compost which is great. Apart from paper cups, we also encourage the use of reusable cups and have our own range available to buy at the Curator.

Our Suppliers

The Curator has always been about developing relationships with suppliers and now we are buying our own green coffee beans we, work closely with coffee importers in the UK that can guarantee the beans are traceable, sustainable and from suppliers adhering to ethical methods of production. Closer to home we have developed excellent working relationships with local farms and food producers in Devon and Le Marche, the region of Italy from where we originally come. Whether coffee producers in tropical latitudes, Devon farmers or winemakers in Italy, they all share our values of authenticity and quality.

Waste Food

We work closely with Food in Community who work with people in crisis. Volunteers collect and sort surplus fresh fruit, vegetables and other sustainably produced food, then deliver food boxes to individual households, charities and community groups across South Devon.We are proud members of Food Drink Devon.