Innovative Approach: Atinkana’s Vision for Environmental Restoration Supported by Eco-Friendly Logistics and Fair Farming Wages
Swiss coffee manufacturer Atinkana is actively working towards a sustainable vision by aiming to restore Colombia’s virgin forest and improve soil fertility.
To fund this initiative in the Sierra Nevada region, Atinkana grows coffee, cocoa, and various fruits in a natural cycle, employing manual harvesting and processing to minimize emissions.
For every kilo of coffee sold, the company plants two trees in Colombia, while also employing eco-friendly transport methods. Coffee beans are transported by sailing ships to Amsterdam, then by truck to Antwerp, by rail to Basel, and finally delivered by a hydrogen truck from Gebrüder Weiss to the roasting plant.
Atinkana’s logistics manager, Andre Conte, emphasizes that their collaboration with Fairtransport and Gebrüder Weiss allows them to cover a substantial portion of the transportation route using sustainable means, making their coffee almost as environmentally friendly as a regional product in Europe.
The coffee’s journey from Colombia takes approximately 10 weeks via sailing ships, with 14 tons arriving in Switzerland annually.
Apart from reforestation efforts, Atinkana also places importance on fair wages for its farmers, paying higher wages compared to other companies.
For each kilogram of coffee sold, a significant portion of the revenue remains in the country, benefiting the local community.
Oskar Kramer, Country Manager Switzerland at Gebrüder Weiss, is impressed by Atinkana’s sustainable approach, which aligns well with Gebrüder Weiss’s commitment to eco-friendly transport. Gebrüder Weiss has been utilizing hydrogen trucks for local transport in Switzerland and plans to introduce three more hydrogen trucks in Germany by 2024.