Buy local. It’s always good advice, isn’t it? Not only does it support the local community, but it also helps reduce transport times and costs. That means fresher products, lower costs, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
At The Stray Bean, we work with several local partners who provide us with all sorts of things, from cookies to the handmade plates they are served on! But as for coffee, let’s not kid ourselves – it comes from the other side of the world. There’s no choice there. And while we are delighted to be able to support independent coffee producers wherever they may be – notably by buying specialty coffees at prices well above fair trade thresholds – there was not much we could do about transport.
Until now!
This month, we are receiving our first (but certainly not last!) coffee transported straight from Colombia by sailboat. It is an exceptional coffee from the Palermo estate in the Huila region. (See our E-shop for our full range of specialty coffees, including Palermo while stocks last!)
Sail-transported coffee is the result of an initiative between two French leaders in their fields: specialty coffee importer Belco and sailing cargo carrier TOWT (TransOceanic Wind Transport). With TOWT, Belco hopes that by 2030, 90% of its coffee will be transported by sail.
Is it too good to be true? And what are the drawbacks, such as higher costs and longer transport times, for instance? Here is some interesting information to help you form your own opinion.
Sail transport is not 100% carbon neutral. First, greenhouse gases are emitted during the construction of any boat. Furthermore, even sailing ships are equipped with engines that are used from time to time. Nevertheless, the reduction in emissions is impressive: it is estimated that sail transport reduces emissions by approximately 75% compared to conventional ships.
This does, however, depend on the type of boat used. At TOWT, sails are the primary means of propulsion for the boats. This is not always the case: the term “wind-powered” can also refer to a hybrid method where the primary energy source remains the engines and the wind is only a secondary contributor based, for example, on a system of rigid sails instead of massive sails. In that case, the emission reductions would inevitably be less significant.
As for shipping times, that is where the real surprise lies: they are significantly shorter by sail! How is that possible? Simply because the shipping routes taken are more direct. Conventional ships tend to stop at several ports along the way, whereas these coffee-dedicated sailboats go directly from Brazil and Colombia to Le Havre, France.
Regarding the cost, yes, it is more expensive. But not by much. The additional cost of transporting each kilo of green (unroasted) coffee is about €1. That comes to about €0.30 for a 250g bag of roasted coffee – or 1 cent per cup!
At The Stray Bean, we think it is worth the cost: a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for a very small price. We hope you agree with us. We also hope you will enjoy your next cup of specialty coffee even more, knowing that the beans traveled across the world by sail to get there!
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