We are proud to announce that Devoción is B Corp certified!
We are proud to announce that Devoción is B Corp certified!
Our mission is to transport our customers to origin through our freshness and coffee experience. We do this while protecting the land and improving the lives of small farmers from whom we buy the coffee. By creating a network of independent coffee farmers throughout Colombia’s coffee producing regions, we are able to build direct relationships with our suppliers that go beyond a traditional business transaction, allowing us to intimately understand their needs.
Becoming B corp certified was a natural next step for us. Certified B Corporations are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive and equitable economy, companies that use the power of business to build a more sustainable economy. We are committed to holding ourselves to the highest standards of social and environmental sustainability throughout every aspect of our operations. Our operations in both Colombia and the US were evaluated and certified simultaneously, making the already long and arduous certification process doubly difficult. However, it is important to us that all of our operations across the entire supply chain are held to the highest of standards, unusual in our industry. Since the start of our certification process before the pandemic, we have already improved in so many areas.
For the wellbeing of our employees, we have improved and increased our employee benefits, implemented flexible working schedules, and begun an employee volunteer initiative program in coffee-growing communities. We have also created and implemented training programs that promote continuous improvement, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainability for the company and the planet.
Devoción Colombia staff during a volunteer outing to plant trees
For our commitment to the planet, we have created an environmental management system to measure, monitor and evaluate the generation of waste, our carbon footprint, and the consumption of energy and water in our Colombia and the United States operations. We have also switched to renewable forms of energy for all our operations in the U.S.
For our dedication to generating a positive social and economic impact throughout our value chain, we have developed and implemented a training program for more than 150 coffee producers around Colombia to enhance their knowledge, improve coffee quality, and be able to sell their coffee at a higher price. We have also established a Coffee Knowledge Center in a partner school in Gacheta, Colombia that provides training for processing, roasting and brewing specialty coffee to young students, promoting interest in coffee production and ensuring future generations of producers to come.
Training and certification program with coffee producers and teachers from our partner school in Gachetá, Cundinamarca
The certification processes could not have been done alone. A result of teamwork and collaboration, everyone in the company was involved to make this a reality, going above and beyond established job responsibilities and putting in long hours. During the impact assessment, every single department participated in meetings and training to learn about the importance of the B corp certification and discuss ways to improve day-to-day operations in order to comply, but their duties do not stop here. Company leaders across both countries’ operations will be tasked with ensuring that our goals in terms of our environmental footprint and social responsibility are constantly evaluated and evolving.
As a company, we believe that the success of our business and its long-term viability depends on the well-being of our stakeholders, the responsible use of natural resources and the protection of the biodiversity of coffee-growing lands. We are proud to be a B Corporation and this certification will be our guide to continually strive to improve and use our business as a force for good. This is just the beginning.
ABOUT B CORPORATIONS®
Certified B Corporations are for-profit companies that use the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. They meet the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Learn more at https://bcorporation.net
