KAFEA TERRA FOOD & DRINKS AEBΕ

The Company incorporates circular economy practices in the field of process, trade, preparetion and consumption of coffee and ensures the education and information of all the links of its value chain, aiming to significant economic, social and environmental benefits. The individual goals are summarized in the minimization of waste disposal at landfills, saving resources and energy, reducing operating costs.
 

• KAFEA TERRA's employees in the departments: Production, Logistics, Commercial, Technical, Coffee Training & Quality Control and other office executives.
• Network of trading partners,
• B2B Customers (Coffee Professionals),
• Consumers (B2C),
• Waste Management Companies and
• Other Industries.
   

Continuous research and adoption of new best practices of Circular Economy.
 

The circular economy practices adopted by KAFEA TERRA cover a wide range of activities and are linked to the flow of materials across the value chain. Specifically, the following apply:

I. In the production process

II. In the operation of offices

III. In the operation of the warehouse

IV.In the coffee shops of customers

V. In the homes of final consumers

Analytically:
I. In the coffee factory different surplus materials are produced that are utilized. During the roasting of the coffee, the coffee peels are collected and sent for composting, in order to be used as a strengthening - improvement in the crops. During the production of the aluminum capsule, residues of aluminum foil  are inserted into a compression press and then disposed of in a specialized carrier.

II. In all areas and departments of the Company there are recycling bins for waste separation. Employees are encouraged to use the respective bins for collection: batteries, lighting & lamps and small appliances of the company and even for waste that arises in their home environment.

Consumables used by office workers are fully recycled and recyclable. Organic waste is collected in the dining area of ​​the facility and feeds the domestic birds raised in a special area outside the facility. Also, in the surrounding area, an olive grove and a vegetable orchard are maintained, the prunings, leaves and residues of which are composted. 

III. In the warehouse, the new cartons for the disposal of the goods are made of recycled paper. Also, cartons and stretch film that can’t be used are fully recycled. For the utilization of the stretch film, the Company joined the circular economy initiative "In the loop" through which the remaining stretch film is delivered and used as raw material to produce recycled plastic bags from the company Thrace Group.

ΙV. In the customers' (B2B) coffee shops the company undertakes the maintenance and repair of the basic professional equipment required for the preparation of espresso coffee. The provided technical support achieves: increase of the life cycle of the machines up to 20 years, reduced energy consumption, reduced coffee and water waste, less required spare parts, reduced operating costs and reduced CO2 emissions due to lower production of new machines and less transport.

When repairing parts is not possible, worn spare parts are replaced with new ones. Worn materials are sent to authorized recycling companies. The same is occurred at the end of the life cycle of coffee machines and mills. When they are unsuitable for repair, their plastic, electronic and metal parts are separated and recycled separately.

For the repair of the equipment in the remote areas, where the physical presence of the company's technicians is not possible, training is carried out in 70 associates of the distribution network. The same applies to the partners who undertake the distribution of our products in the Ho.re.ca sector abroad. Partners are trained and supported through an open channel of communication.

With the application of video calls they are guided in an immediate time, in the solution of complex problems, saving time and resources required for the transfer of the equipment to the central Technical Department in Peania. For the best support of the collaborators, the Company proceeded in 2020, to produce 26 educational videos of technical content, which are an important electronic manual for solving the most common problems. In addition, an important goal is the training of coffee professionals, so that they acquire skills in solving simple problems and adopt best practices, avoiding impending harm.

V. The company through the operation of the Technical Department repairs home espresso machines, preventing consumers from their short replacement. Also, through the Iperespresso Capsules Recycling Program, the Company enables consumers to recycle their capsules either in bins that have been placed in various parts of the country or through a special recycling bag and sending them to the facilities in Peania. There, the capsules are collected and sent to a special recycling company that undertakes the separation and composting of the coffee residue as well as the recycling of the capsule body.
 

Recycling, composting companies:

• OIKO-KIKLIOS S.A
• Neilos Recycling S.A.
• Fotokiklosi S.A.
• Afis S.A.
• Polyeco S.A.
• Cytop S.A.
• Siakandaris Group

Thace Group.- "In the loop" A platform for upcycling plastic waste

Every employee undertakes the proper management of waste streams that occur during his/her work. E.g. the management of coffee and aluminum residues, resulting from the processing of coffee is carried out by the Production, the repair and reuse of coffee equipment for the preparation of coffee by the Technical Department, etc. 
Employees are encouraged to use the collection bins for: batteries, luminaires, lamps and e;ectronic appliances that are placed in the company even for waste that arises in their home environment. They are actively involved in the recycling and reuse process and are constantly inventing new ways to ensure that nothing is lost.
 

• Facilities of KAFEA TERRA in Peania.
• Coffee shops throughout Greece.
• Homes of final consumers.
   

KAFEA TERRA's applied circular economy practices offer multiple benefits as the environment is protected, health and quality of life are improved, resources are saved and financial benefits are derived to customers and end consumers. 
Annually, the Technical Department of the company performs an average of 5,500 repairs of professional espresso equipment: 3,360 repairs "inhouse" and 2,140 at customer points. Only the 10% of the equipment available is brand new, the remaining 90% is repaired, maintained and reused. In addition, the life cycle of the home coffee machines is increasing, as 1,100 of them are repaired annually.

From the integration of circular economy practices in the basic functions of KAFEA TERRA in 2021 were recycled: 21,330kg paper & stretch film, 7,440kg of electrical & electronic equipment, 440 kg of metals, 32,620kg of coffee production residues as well as small quantities of lighting, lubricants, batteries, while in 2022 began the compaction and recycling of aluminum waste. 
Also in 2021, the Iperespresso capsule recycling program was launched.

The central facilities in Peania in 2021 operated entirely with electricity generated by Renewable Energy Sources.
 

There are multiple benefits to the organization from the structured circular economy practices of the Organization, such as:

• Reduction of discarded solids resulting to improve the environmental footprint of the Organization.
• Saving resources from the reuse of professional and home espresso equipment.
• Environmental education and awareness of employees and other members of the Organization's value chain.
• Financial rewards from upcycling materials recycling.
• Increase of the extroversion of the Organization through synergies with stakeholders and other companies and organizations.
• Compliance with environmental legislation.