Coffee Island ESG Report 2022–2023: Transparency in Action
ECONOMY
BUSINESS: 437 PRACTICES
TOPIC:
Initiative
SUBMITTED FROM:
Objective Action
Driven by a strong commitment to sustainable development and the creation of positive social and environmental impact, Coffee Island voluntarily published the first Sustainability Report by a Greek coffee chain for the years 2022–2023, although ESG disclosure was not a regulatory requirement.
The report was designed not as a standard disclosure process, but as a meaningful tool for transparency, accountability, stakeholder engagement and the strengthening of organizational culture around ESG principles. Its development was based on a materiality assessment involving different stakeholder groups, which helped define the strategic pillars of People, Environment and Product.
The key objectives of the initiative were:
- To systematically present Coffee Island’s ESG footprint through measurable data, initiatives and practices across the pillars of People, Environment and Product.
- To strengthen transparency and trust among employees, franchisees, partners, suppliers and the wider business ecosystem.
- To establish sustainability as a strategic priority embedded throughout the company’s value chain and daily operations, within a multi-layered and geographically dispersed network of operations and partners.
- To actively integrate ESG principles into the organization’s internal operations and culture through awareness, education and the active participation of the wider network.
- To reinforce Coffee Island’s position as a pioneer in ESG transparency, responsible growth and sustainable business practices within the coffee retail sector.
Target Audience
The initiative targeted a multi-layered stakeholder ecosystem, aiming to strengthen transparency, trust and understanding of Coffee Island’s ESG strategy across the company’s wider network and partner ecosystem.
Key target audiences included:
- Journalists, opinion leaders and specialized media across business, ESG, entrepreneurship, food service, marketing and lifestyle sectors, ensuring meaningful and multidimensional public positioning for the initiative.
- Stakeholders within the wider business and institutional ecosystem, including partners, suppliers and professional communities interested in sustainable development, responsible business practices and ESG transparency.
- Coffee Island’s wider network — employees, franchisees, baristi and partners — with the goal of meaningfully embedding ESG principles into the organization’s daily operations and culture.
- Consumers and audiences increasingly seeking brands that demonstrate transparency, social responsibility and measurable environmental and social impact.
Through targeted communication and a differentiated approach for each stakeholder group, the initiative strengthened stakeholder connection with Coffee Island’s sustainability strategy and ESG priorities.
Duration
Throughout 2024, in the context of the publication of the 2022–2023 Sustainability Report and the strengthening of ESG strategy integration across Coffee Island’s operations and network.
Description
Coffee Island voluntarily published the first Sustainability Report by a Greek coffee chain for the years 2022–2023, actively demonstrating its commitment to transparency, accountability and sustainable development.
The development of the report began with a materiality assessment involving different stakeholder groups, through which the strategic pillars of People, Environment and Product were defined, forming the foundation of the company’s ESG strategy and the overall structure of the report.
The initiative was designed not only as a corporate accountability and sustainability strategy project, but as an integrated initiative of strategic communication, organizational alignment and activation of Coffee Island’s wider network. The implementation of the project involved a high level of complexity, as the ESG strategy had to be consistently reflected and applied across a multi-layered and geographically dispersed business model, including production activity, corporate operations, retail networks, franchise stores, partners and local communities nationwide.
The project was built around three core pillars:
- the systematic disclosure of measurable ESG indicators and practices across the pillars of People, Environment and Product,
- multi-layered communication outreach targeting different stakeholder groups,
- and the meaningful integration of ESG principles into the organization’s daily operations and culture.
As part of the implementation, a comprehensive ESG communication strategy was developed, combining stakeholder mapping with targeted media outreach across business, ESG, trade, marketing and lifestyle media. The presentation of the ESG Report was supported by a dedicated media event, strengthening Coffee Island’s public positioning around sustainability and responsible entrepreneurship.
Adopting innovative circular economy practices, it collaborates with Coffee Eco to recycle coffee waste and transform it into sustainable products, such as cosmetics and bioplastics. In its first year of operation, Coffe-Eco completed the processing of 50 tons of coffee waste from Coffee Island coffee roasters, corresponding to 9tn of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions.
The initiative was further reinforced through participation in institutional sustainability forums and through an internal webinar addressed to employees, franchisees and partners, strengthening understanding and the practical implementation of ESG principles across the Coffee Island network.
The 2022–2023 Sustainability Report is available through Coffee Island’s corporate website: Coffee Island ESG Report 2022–2023 .
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Impact on Society
The publication of the 2022–2023 Sustainability Report marked a significant milestone for Coffee Island, reinforcing its position as a pioneer within the Greek coffee retail sector, as the company became the first Greek coffee chain to voluntarily proceed with ESG reporting.
The initiative highlighted its commitment to ethical business and sustainability as a strategic priority with a measurable footprint across Coffee Island's value chain and network, enhancing transparency, accountability and meaningful assessment of the company's progress in critical areas of sustainable development and corporate governance.
Indicative results from the reporting period include:
- more than 120,000 total annual training hours delivered to employees, baristi and franchisees across the wider Coffee Island ecosystem,
- 55% energy coverage from photovoltaic systems in 2023,
- zero non-compliance incidents,
- 47 annual quality inspections,
- support for more than 4,600 professionals across the wider Coffee Island network,
- as well as the implementation of circular economy practices through the utilization of recycled materials and coffee waste.
At the same time, the initiative substantially contributed to the internal integration of ESG principles, strengthening understanding and the active participation of Coffee Island’s wider network around sustainability and responsible business practices.
The broader dissemination of the Sustainability Report also significantly strengthened Coffee Island’s public positioning around sustainable development and ESG transparency, generating 124 publications across 51 different media outlets and an Earned Media Value of €79.500.
Initiative Location
Nationwide, across Coffee Island’s entire network and operations in Greece, including production facilities, franchise stores and partners, with the active participation of employees and stakeholders across the wider business ecosystem.
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Working with Organization
The initiative was implemented by Coffee Island through cross-functional collaboration among internal teams, aiming to create a unified ESG approach connecting sustainability with the organization’s strategy, operations and wider network.
The development of the Sustainability Report was based on collaboration across different Coffee Island functions and teams, reflecting the multi-layered structure and operational complexity of the company’s network.
For the communication support of the Sustainability Report presentation, Coffee Island collaborated with Oni Communications in the planning and implementation of the media event and media relations activities.
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Workers Participation
The active participation of employees and Coffee Island’s wider network was a key element of the initiative, strengthening the meaningful integration of ESG principles into the organization’s daily operations and culture.
As part of the publication of the 2022–2023 Sustainability Report, an internal webinar was organized for employees, franchisees and network partners, focusing on the strategic pillars of People, Environment and Product, as well as the practical implementation of sustainability principles across the full scope of Coffee Island’s operations.
The initiative was supported through cross-functional collaboration among internal teams, ensuring a unified ESG direction and a shared approach to transparency, accountability and responsible growth across a multi-layered and geographically dispersed network of operations and partners.
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Benefits for Οrganization
The publication of the 2022–2023 Sustainability Report substantially strengthened Coffee Island’s ESG maturity, creating a unified framework for monitoring, evaluating and managing sustainability-related issues across the organization.
The initiative contributed to the systematic recording of ESG data and the establishment of a shared direction around transparency, accountability and responsible growth, strengthening internal alignment across different teams, functions and stakeholder groups within the company.
At the same time, it reinforced the organization’s ESG culture by strengthening the connection between sustainability, decision-making processes, strategic development and Coffee Island’s day-to-day operations across its entire network.
The initiative also strengthened the company’s reputation and differentiation within the sector, as Coffee Island became the first Greek coffee chain to voluntarily proceed with ESG reporting, actively demonstrating its commitment to transparency and responsible entrepreneurship.
In addition, the systematic disclosure of measurable ESG indicators created a stronger foundation for evaluating the company’s progress in key areas such as training, energy, quality, compliance and circular economy practices, further enhancing its capacity for strategic ESG planning and informed decision-making.
Connection with Global Goals
