Sourcing & Sustainability

Responsible from plantation to cup.

1979UK Tea Council member
1998Fairtrade licensees
5Quality checks before we buy
40+Countries served

Hands holding freshly picked red coffee cherries on a coffee farm

Tea pickers working among rows of tea bushes on a hillside estate

Sourcing

Judged by the cup

Every coffee bean and tea leaf is tested before we buy it.

We buy green coffee from trusted farms and co-operatives around the world, evaluating new-season samples throughout the year. Before we buy, every coffee must pass five checks.

Moisture
We check each sample has the right moisture level, so the coffee is never musty or mouldy.
Screen size
A sample is graded to make sure the beans are the correct size.
Appearance
A weighed sample is checked bean by bean for defects, from colour and maturity to insect damage and stray stones or wood.
Sample roast
The beans are lightly roasted to a medium brown, so any imperfections show up in the cup.
Cupping
The final test. We judge fragrance, flavour, aftertaste, acidity, sweetness, body and balance, and compare against previous samples.

Fairtrade since 1998

Our commitment to Fairtrade

We were one of the first companies to become Fairtrade licensees, roasting fine Fairtrade coffees from Colombia, Brazil and Honduras. Fairtrade guarantees producers a better deal, under independently audited international standards.

Explore our coffee

Environmental policy

Our commitments

Minimising waste and increasing energy efficiency wherever possible.

Products
Natural ingredients, minimal processing and premium grades only.
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All tea and coffee products are made from natural sources with the minimum processing to ensure the quality of the product. Brodies will only accept premium grade tea and coffee from reputable estates.
No genetic modification
No protein or DNA from genetically modified sources.
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Brodies products do not contain any protein or DNA derived from a genetically modified source. Suppliers of food ingredients to Brodies must complete an extensive supplier questionnaire as part of our evaluation process.
Machinery
Energy-efficient equipment, and a roaster that reduces emissions.
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Energy efficiency is a priority when we buy new machinery and equipment, and machinery is maintained regularly to keep it efficient. Our coffee roaster has an afterburner and catalyser that reduce emissions during roasting.
Packaging
Reviewed regularly to cut waste and energy use.
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Packaging requirements are reviewed frequently to minimise cost and energy use, and environmental concerns are considered whenever new packaging is sourced. Cardboard packaging is reused wherever possible, and recycled packaging material is used where appropriate.
Renewable timber
Timber and paper only from sustainable, well-managed sources.
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Brodies will only accept timber and timber products from sustainable and well-managed sources, including fibreboard, wood pulp, paper, cellulose and charcoal. Suppliers must produce and maintain evidence of the original composition of the material, the percentage recycled and its sources.
Waste
Paper and cardboard reused, and the rest recycled.
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We minimise waste by reusing paper and cardboard and recycling the remaining material. Our manufacturing uses minimal water, and roaster emissions are catalysed to meet air quality laws.

Sustainability

Sustainable growth, every day

We are dedicated to sustainable growth in our everyday activities. As part of the Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, we share our sustainability achievements every year.