Roasting Sustainably: Dear Green's Vision For A Climate-Resilient Coffee Industry

Dear Green Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee company based in Glasgow, is making waves in the industry with its commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. Founded in 2011 by Lisa Lawson, the company has positioned itself at the intersection of high-quality coffee production and environmental responsibility.

Coffee, a globally beloved beverage known for its stimulating properties, is derived from the seeds of coffee cherries. Dear Green produces a variety of specialty coffees, including single-origin roasts and custom blends, all of which offer customers high-quality alternatives to mass-produced coffee. But coffee is not just a commodity, it also serves as a symbol of social connection in many cultures, making it an ideal centerpiece for Dear Green's ethical and sustainable mission.

I recently spoke with Lisa Lawson, founder of Dear Green Coffee Roasters, about the company's work and how specialty coffee businesses can integrate sustainable practices into their core strategy, the challenges of adapting to climate change, and the evolving consumer landscape for ethically sourced coffee.

Dear Green is dedicated to producing exceptional coffee while respecting both people and the planet, or in Lisa's own words, "coffee could be a force for good." Her experiences visiting coffee origins, particularly in Kenya and Colombia, have profoundly shaped the company's practices. The company sources specialty-grade coffee, working directly with farmers to ensure quality and fair pricing.

Sustainability is woven into every aspect of Dear Green's operations. The company supports climate change adaptation efforts in coffee-growing regions and is working towards Net Zero emissions. They also advocate for the introduction of agroforestry practices and an end to deforestation in coffee-growing areas. They are transparent about their positive actions, shortfalls, and targets, going beyond greenwashing to become true advocates for change in the industry.

Education and transparency are key components of Dear Green's approach. The company openly discusses the climate crisis and its impacts on coffee production, aiming to help consumers understand why the price of coffee should reflect its true cost.

In our conversation, Lisa also touches on broader industry challenges and potential solutions, including the role of larger coffee companies in driving sustainability, the need for government interventions, and how consumer behavior might need to shift as coffee production adapts to a changing climate.

Read on for an in-depth look at how Dear Green Coffee Roasters is navigating the complex landscape of sustainability in the coffee industry, and what lessons can be drawn for both businesses and consumers in an era of environmental uncertainty.

Christopher Marquis: What is the mission of Dear Green Coffee Roasters and why did you found the company?

Lisa Lawson: We are committed to producing a high-quality product with respect to people and the planet in all that we do.

After spending time working in coffee in Australia, I moved back to Glasgow and later founded the company in 2011. The timing was right and there was a gap in the market – the specialty coffee scene in the UK was still in its infancy – and I was keen to no longer have a boss!

I believed coffee could be a force for good, but the standards for quality, customer service, and ethical practices weren't high enough across the industry. I wanted to change that.

Ultimately, I wanted to have a job that I love, with purpose, and now I do.

Marquis: What personal experiences during your visits to coffee growing locations have shifted your understanding of the environmental crisis and its direct impact on farming communities?

Lawson: Hearing first-hand stories from farmers, especially in Kenya and Colombia, was eye-opening. They described how low rainfall led to lower yields and fast-ripening coffee, which reduced both crop quality and their income. Some even had to relocate from third-generation farms due to inconsistent climate patterns, making farming unsustainable. Our partners at Raw Material shared that Rwandan smallholder farmers had to relocate three times due to landslides. Starting from scratch every time is devastating – since a coffee tree takes three years to produce a harvest, they face years of insecurity.

Farmers urgently need support to adapt to the changing climate, and while green tech is important, it's not always the immediate help they need. More funding is required for direct climate adaptation, and it's crucial that we recognise the rich knowledge these farmers have of their plants and their environment.

I've also seen the effects of Brazil's recent droughts and frost, which drove up global coffee prices. It's a stark reminder of how interconnected the coffee industry is and how vulnerable it remains to climate impacts.

Marquis: With the projected loss of coffee-growing land by 2050, what do you think is needed to ensure we don't lose coffee forever?

Lawson: Where do I start? First, we need better governance around the actions causing the most harm, especially from the Western world affecting the Global South. Deforestation must end, and agroforestry should be introduced where it isn't already in place. A higher price must be paid for coffee to support coffee-growing communities directly, along with support for farming and agronomy practices.

At Dear Green, we donate to World Coffee Research to support climate-resilient coffee plant research. Behind the economic commodity of coffee are thousands of hardworking people who are already living in poverty and facing devastating losses because of climate change.

Beyond that, we need widespread acknowledgement and education about the climate crisis. It's not just coffee we're at risk of losing – humanity itself is under threat. We talk openly about the climate crisis at Dear Green, pledge towards Net Zero, and invest in having a member of our team who is entirely focused on Sustainability, so we can utilise their expertise and be held accountable. We're being transparent about our positive actions, our shortfalls, and our targets. More companies need to go beyond greenwashing and be true advocates for change.

Marquis: In the meantime, how might climate change reshape the coffee industry for consumers in terms of pricing, quality, and availability – could coffee become a luxury good?

Lawson: Isn't coffee already a luxury? It's not essential for survival. Coffee should be priced as a luxury product to reflect its true value, especially if it brings financial equality along the supply chain. Lower-quality coffees will likely dominate as they are easier to produce at lower altitudes and are more pest-resistant.

On the other hand, high-grown arabica, which has more complex flavour profiles, is predicted to become rarer and more expensive. Producers will likely continue to experiment with innovative processing methods to meet consumer demands, and this ingenuity will explain the higher prices for coffee in the future.

It's exciting to see producers take more creative risks with their processes. However, there's still a disconnect between consumers and the agricultural roots of coffee. Education will be key to bridging that gap and helping people understand why the price of coffee should reflect its true cost.

Marquis: What bold changes should the coffee industry adopt to tackle environmental risks more aggressively?

Lawson: Companies should be reviewing their financial institutions, pension providers, energy suppliers, and waste production processes. Measuring a company's carbon footprint can highlight where significant changes can be made, particularly in reducing Scope 3 emissions such as business travel – that's why we now make less trips to origin, as important as that is to our understanding.

Businesses need to transition away from fossil fuels, increase organic coffee purchases, and shift from offsetting to insetting by investing directly in their supply chain. Supporting producer-led projects and climate adaptation will help ensure quality and sustainability. But support is needed to do that.

Marquis: What role do larger coffee companies have in driving industry-wide sustainability, and are they stepping up to the challenge?

Lawson: Multinationals have the power to make the biggest changes with the greatest impact, whether it's creating less waste, using renewables, or refusing to invest in places where deforestation is occurring. Smaller players can be influential – and we think we've played a significant role in pushing the industry forward – but big business combined with government policy will ultimately drive systemic change.

These companies need to move away from dependency on fossil fuels and invest in climate adaptation projects. Research points to investing in shade-grown, organic poly-cultural farming as a way forward. While some companies support greener, fairer projects, they aren't doing nearly enough – much like fast fashion brands launching 'sustainable' lines won't solve the climate crisis. We need a more holistic commitment to change.

Marquis: What government policies or interventions would most effectively support the future of coffee farming?

Lawson: It's difficult to push for specific government policies because our industry has a highly international supply chain. However, the UK government can help by supporting businesses to reduce emissions and creating policies that influence product end-of-life processes. International agreements made at COP, which was in Glasgow just a few years ago, should be acted upon, especially around carbon reduction.

Governments should support and incentivize organisations to implement Sustainable Development Goals into their operations, and policies around public transport and waste management can also help businesses lower their environmental footprint.

Funding opportunities are crucial, especially for SMEs to hire dedicated sustainability professionals. Dear Green was fortunate to receive support through the Step Up To Net Zero pilot funding – a Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Initiative which supports Glasgow SMEs in their efforts to reach net zero by funding six-month work placements who will help organisations take action towards net zero and circular goals.

There should be a compulsory living wage for sustainable farming roles and more work to reduce pesticide and fertiliser use. Making B Corp certification compulsory would make a huge difference in ensuring businesses operate with the environment, workers, and communities in mind.