At Jasper Coffee, we’re aware that the quality of soil, air, water and viability of people are the essence of sustainability. It’s why we’ve consciously embedded these aspects in our business.
With this in mind, we wanted to share some of the projects we’re proud to have been part of over the years – from helping to build up community capacity to participating in Fairtrade initiatives to combat the issue of child slavery. Not to beat our own chests, but rather so you know more about who you’re in business with as a Jasper Coffee customer.
1989 (through to 2000)
Supported many local school sponsorships and funded Childrens Farm sponsorships
2000
Purchased a Lilla Roaster, the most energy efficient roasting equipment of its kind
2003
Jasper Coffee becomes certified organic with Australian Certified Organic (ACO)
2003
Started using Fairtrade organic coffees from East Timor and Costa Rica
2005
Became the founding member of the new Fairtrade Association of Australia and New Zealand
2005
Introduced Café Femenino from Peru in 2005 and, at the beginning, bought 50% of their crop
2005 (through to present)
Supported Café Femenino through funding various projects including water purification, new buildings and food relief during the pandemic
2007
Partnered with World Vision to help a small cooperative in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia
2007 – 2014
Self-imposed a levy on the sale of Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia, and sent $98,000 over 7 years to help elevate producers and their families out of poverty
2007 – 2016
Our co-founder, Wells, visited Ethiopia three times to build relationships with two coops in Yirgacheffe and Sidamo
2008
Started buying Honduras Fairtrade coffee
2008
Partnered with an NGO to help a small group of young people in Cambodia, including the training of baristas and equipment servicing
2010
Sponsored an agronomist to the coop in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia, to appraise their agronomy habits and recommend initiatives
2011
Sponsored the Honduras coop business manager to Melbourne for skills development, including corporate presenting at PWC and RMIT
2011 -2014
Jasper Fairtrade instant coffee served on 66% of Australia’s domestic airlines
2012
Introduced compostable packaging for our instant coffee and our 1kg packs
2013
Funded the Honduras coop bank debt so they could regain another finance loan
2014
Sponsored $7,000 towards the reclamation effort of the Honduras coop to rebuild their farms after La Roya fungus devastated their crop by 80%
2015
Launched Red Dust the Coffee blend with the NGO Outback Academy to fund the Red Dust Healing program for young Indigenous people
2016
Funded a soap making facility for the Ethiopian Sidamo co-op
2016
The first to introduce Fairtrade Organic cocoa, drinking chocolate, sugar and instant coffee to Australia
2018
Visited East Timor and committed to co-fund a birthing clinic annexe for the co-op
2018
Granted permission to visit our Fairtrade co-op in Colombia
2020
Introduced compostable capsules to market
2020
Introduced the first plastic-free take away cups to Australia
2021
Funded $13,000 to assist the Honduras co-op in the wake of two devastating hurricanes
2021
Launched a GO FUND ME campaign to raise $20,000 to help the Honduras co-op’s rectification program
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There’s more to come and we look forward to sharing the stories of our people and producers, and their communities, with you. If you’re keen to learn more about the work we do, read on regarding sustainability, or see some of our Faitrade stories from Colombia, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor.
