Sustainability

At No6 Coffee Co., sustainability is more than just a value, it’s a commitment. It shapes how we source, roast, serve, and engage, ensuring that our operations respect the environment, support our community, and inspire positive change at every level.  

Purpose: Building Relationships

We prioritize direct trade relationships that support quality, sustainability, and trust. For over 10 years, we’ve partnered with Common Goal Coffee, working closely with its owner, Billy, who has spent decades cultivating meaningful relationships with producers.  

These partnerships allow us to source from the same family-operated farms year after year, creating stability for the farmers and consistency in the coffees we offer. Many of these farms use natural, cost-effective methods for pest control and fertilization and integrate other crops or animals into their operations to maintain ecological balance.  

Additionally, these producers often collaborate with neighbouring farms to meet volume demands, creating a network of support that benefits entire communities. By paying farmers based on quality, we incentivize innovation, leading to better yields, better coffee, and stronger communities.

More than 50% of the coffees we source come from women-owned or operated farms. We’re proud to work with producers such as Fazenda Santa Helena and Fazenda Jaguara in Brazil and ASPROTIMANA in Colombia, supporting women in coffee and fostering a more equitable supply chain.

Responsibility: Environmental Footprint  

We approach sustainability considering the environmental impact of every step in our process.  

• Energy Efficiency: Our Diedrich IR-12 roaster is engineered to use 50% less energy than traditional roasters, helping reduce emissions.  
• Lighting: Most of our roastery uses LED lighting to minimize energy consumption.
• Packaging: Retail customers receive coffee in 100% recyclable packaging, and we offer a returnable glass jar program to reduce waste.
• Bulk Delivery: For our local wholesale cafe accounts, we deliver coffee in reusable plastic pails, eliminating single-use bags.
• Single-Use: We do not provide single-use cups, encouraging customers to bring their own reusable cups or purchase one of the sustainable options we sell.  

Engagement: Inspiring Change

Sustainability isn’t just about practices—it’s about empowering others to take meaningful action.  

• Educating Customers: Our low-volume tasting bar allows us to connect with our customers in ways that high-volume, grab-and-go environments cannot. We dedicate time to discussing coffee industry impacts, brewing techniques, and ways to reduce waste at home.
• Encouraging Thoughtful Brewing: By helping customers find durable, high-quality brewing tools that suit their lifestyles, we minimize unnecessary purchases and foster more sustainable consumption habits. Better brewing at home also reduces the need for frequent coffee shop visits, lowering overall waste.
• Championing Quality-Based Pay: We actively share the importance of paying farmers for quality. This model drives innovation, improves farming efficiency, and creates a positive ripple effect in coffee-growing regions.  

Usability: The Digital Space

Our commitment to sustainability extends to the digital experience. Our website is designed for speed, simplicity, and efficiency, minimizing unnecessary energy use while delivering a seamless customer experience.  

• Optimized Performance: Built on Shopify’s Dawn theme, our website ensures fast load times and smooth navigation.
• Minimalist Design: A single font is used throughout for clarity, while images are losslessly compressed to reduce data usage without compromising quality.
• Purposeful Content: Every image and text element serves a clear purpose—no unnecessary distractions like sliders.
• Accessibility: We use black text on white backgrounds for maximum legibility and are compliant with Canadian website accessibility laws.
• Efficient Navigation: Continuous optimization ensures customers can quickly find the coffees they need, spending less time online while enjoying a stress-free experience.  

Our digital philosophy reflects our overall mission: thoughtful, minimalist, and impactful.

Community Impact: Locally and Globally  

We believe in strengthening both our local community and the global coffee industry: 

• Donations: We donate coffee to a 24/7 café that supports street culture, helping create a welcoming space for those in need.
• Fundraisers: We contribute coffee for most fundraising events, amplifying the efforts of local organizations.
• Partnerships: We partner with schools on fundraisers, selling coffee at wholesale prices so they can earn significant returns on their efforts.

Looking Forward: A Sustainable Future

We’re always looking for ways to do better. One of our future goals is to implement a returnable reusable cup program across all cafés that serve No6 Coffee. Customers would pay a small deposit for a reusable cup, which could be exchanged for a clean cup or refunded at any participating location. This initiative would reduce single-use cup waste while making sustainability more convenient for customers.  

Commitment: A Collective Effort  

At No6 Coffee Co., sustainability is a shared journey. Every choice we make, and every choice our customers make,  contributes to a more sustainable coffee industry. Whether it’s bringing your own cup, brewing thoughtfully at home, or engaging in meaningful conversations about coffee’s impact, your actions help shape a better future.