The Common Good Coffee Company launched in 2018 with an idea to create a community-based brand that helps retailers become part of a program that supports them and their local communities while being socially responsible and environmentally conscious.
Talking to Convenience World, General Manager Kate Greaney says the company seeks to inspire people and bring positivity and productivity to people’s lives.
“As a business, we feel it’s important to connect to the customers and the wider community,” she says.
“We’re built on the foundation of making people ‘feel good inside’. For many people, drinking coffee is a daily ritual, and we wanted to elevate that and turn it into an experience.”
Mentally aware
According to Ms Greaney, The Common Good Coffee Company strives to become more socially responsible “every step of the way”.
“One of our key drivers is to support the fight against mental illness,” she says. “We believe that every Australian has the right to achieve their best mental health.
“We stand behind this belief and donate $1 from every kilo of coffee sold to [mental health charity] Beyond Blue. Over the past three and a half years, The Common Good has worked with the community to help raise funds and awareness for mental health. Together with our partners and customers, we’ve raised over $45,000 in support of Beyond Blue, with a target of $50,000 by the end of 2022 and $100,000 by the end of 2023.”
The business is also involved in events such as Coastrek, a charity hiking challenge for women, with funds raised going to Beyond Blue, and supports its local communities with area-specific charities and organisations.
In September, The Common Good Coffee Company was the exclusive coffee supply partner at ACAPMA’s Asia Pacific Fuel Industry Forum.
“We pledged $1 from every cup of coffee on the first day and $5 from every cup on the second day with a total donation of $5000 donated to Beyond Blue for the two days,” says Ms Greaney.
Sustainably aware
The Common Good Coffee Company says it’s committed to minimising the environmental impact of its operations wherever possible.
“We partner with bean suppliers that are dedicated to sustainability and environmental awareness,” says Ms Greaney. “Our coffee supply partners commit to environmental policies that include efficient use of natural resources, responsible use of water and energy resources, recycling or disposal of waste, managing farms environmentally and productively and working with producers to improve practices to limit problems related to pesticides and deforestation.”
The company’s takeaway coffee cups are promoted as environmentally friendly, and are splashed with the company’s signature blue, displaying messages of inspiration for the pleasure of coffee drinkers.
“The inner wall of our coffee cups is coated with Ingeo [brand] innovative corn-based bioplastic, a sustainable plant-based alternative to traditional plastic-lined coffee cups,” says Ms Greaney.
“We encourage all our customers to use Common Good eco cups or offer a discount for customers that bring their own reusable cups.”
Read more from The Common Good Coffee Company, including coffee challenges and advice, in the November issue of Convenience World.
