ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

With the vision of becoming one of the sustainable coffee companies, Detech Coffee is actively implementing initiatives to minimize environmental impact and respond to climate change through international certification programs, agroforestry initiatives…

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

Detech Coffee has achieved reputable certifications for sustainable production and processing, ensuring coffee is produced according to international environmental and social welfare standards.

4C CERTIFICATION

Over 350 smallholder farmers in Detech Coffee’s farmer network have achieved 4C certification and practiced coffee fairness with farmers from a multinational coffee trading company.

This is an important first step to ensure coffee is sustainably produced and traceable, laying a solid foundation for future sustainable development initiatives.

RAINFOREST ALLIANCE CERTIFICATION

With a vision for sustainable development, Detech Coffee is building a network of 1,000 smallholder farmers working towards Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification – the gold standard in sustainable agriculture. In March 2023, Rainforest Alliance certification was officially granted to 500 smallholder households in this expanded farmer network.

The training program was sponsored through an integrated development partnership with GIZ, aimed at enhancing resilience in Arabica coffee production and processing in Northwest Vietnam – Vietnam’s traditional and renowned coffee growing region.

Detech Coffee aims to bring the remaining 500 smallholder households into certification programs in the near future. All these certifications not only enhance farmers’ capacity and awareness of sustainability, but also reward them justly for their efforts.

AGROFORESTRY INITIATIVE – A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Since 2022, Detech Coffee has expanded into agroforestry in Son La province, one of Vietnam’s key coffee producing areas. This initiative focuses on comprehensive solutions to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change, while protecting the ecological environment:

CLIMATE ADAPTATION

Since 2020, Detech Coffee has clearly recognized the increasingly severe impacts of climate change on coffee production and has proactively introduced new coffee varieties with improved tolerance to extreme climate conditions. These varieties not only help maintain productivity and quality amid climate change, but also contribute to the sustainability of coffee growing areas in the face of drought, high temperatures, and extreme weather events.

Some notable new coffee varieties introduced by Detech Coffee include:

– Starmaya: A drought and heat-tolerant coffee variety, adapted to harsh climatic conditions. Starmaya was developed by the Ecom and has been proven to perform well under drought and high temperature conditions.

– H1: A disease-resistant coffee variety with high yield and stable quality under erratic climate conditions. H1 is a hybrid between Arabica and Robusta coffee, combining the disease resistance of Robusta with the distinctive flavor of Arabica.

The adoption of these new coffee varieties has helped Detech Coffee enhance resilience against drought, high temperatures, and extreme weather events caused by climate change, thereby increasing the sustainability of its coffee growing areas.

CARBON DIOXIDE REDUCTION

Starting in 2023, Detech Coffee has implemented initiatives on reforestation and land restoration through an agroforestry model in Son La province. Specifically, coffee is intercropped with forestry species such as tamarind, acacia, stylo, and soybean during the first 1-2 years.

This diversified cropping system not only helps absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis of the various plant species, but also creates a more diverse and sustainable ecosystem.

The diversity of crop species in this agroforestry model provides numerous important environmental benefits, such as:

– Improving soil fertility through natural nutrient cycling from leaf litter and decomposition.

– Reducing soil erosion as tree roots hold the soil and limit surface runoff.

– Creating a rich habitat for wildlife, conserving biodiversity.

– Providing diversified income sources for farmers from the various crops.

With this agroforestry model, Detech Coffee is actively contributing to reducing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, while creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly farming system.

TRANSITION TO ORGANIC FARMING

Recognizing the harm of agricultural chemicals to the environment and human health, Detech Coffee is preparing to transition to organic farming, expected to begin in 2023. The goal of this program is to completely eliminate the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other hazardous chemicals in coffee production.

Instead, Detech Coffee will adopt safer organic farming practices such as using organic fertilizers from agricultural waste, nitrogen fixation from leguminous plants, biological pest control, and integrated pest management (IPM) measures. The transition to organic farming will significantly reduce the amount of pollutants and toxic chemicals released into the environment, while also creating a safer coffee product for consumer health.

CARBON OFFSET PROJECT

In addition to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Detech Coffee is also implementing a carbon offset project with partner Carbon Block. This project aims to verify Detech Coffee’s carbon emissions from production activities in 2023 and certify offsets for the market in 2024.

Through this project, Detech Coffee will calculate and offset an equivalent amount of CO2 emissions by participating in reforestation and forest conservation activities. This will not only make Detech Coffee a carbon-neutral business, but also actively contribute to reducing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

WATER CONSERVATION

Recognizing the importance of protecting precious water resources, Detech Coffee has implemented water conservation measures in coffee processing since 2019. By applying new technologies and processes, Detech Coffee has significantly reduced water consumption in processing operations. Some key water conservation measures implemented include:

– Reusing treated wastewater for non-consumptive purposes such as irrigation, cooling, etc.

– Applying more efficient technologies to separate water from coffee grounds, reducing wastewater discharge.

– Optimizing processing procedures to minimize water usage for washing, milling, drying, etc.

– Raising awareness and training employees on the importance of water conservation. Through these efforts, Detech Coffee has contributed to protecting water resources – an essential but increasingly scarce resource – while minimizing the impact of its production activities on the water environment.

With continuous efforts, Detech Coffee is gradually becoming a pioneer in sustainable coffee production and processing in Vietnam. Our commitment to sustainability will continue to be demonstrated through future initiatives and projects, contributing to environmental protection, climate change response, and holistic community development.