B Corp Month is here, and we’re celebrating businesses that create real impact for people and the planet.
In this edition of our Partner Spotlight, we spoke with Pablo & Rusty’s, a BCorp and Fairtrade certified business that believes great coffee should not only taste amazing but also drive positive change.
“It’s not just about sustainability on paper; it’s about making choices that resonate across the supply chain. In the end, every delicious cup of coffee makes a difference.”
As a BCorp business, they meet high social, environmental, and governance standards. Meanwhile, Fairtrade certification ensures farmers are treated fairly and have the resources to thrive. Together, these commitments create a holistic approach to ethical business.
Join us this B Corp Month as we celebrate businesses making a difference, for coffee, for communities, and for the future. ☕🌍
What are Pablo & Rusty’s sustainability priorities?
Our three key goals right now are: becoming 1% for the Planet members (which we’ve achieved), scoring 100+ on our B Corp certification (we’re close at 97.3), and ensuring all our packaging is either recyclable or compostable. Ultimately, our philosophy is simple: craft delicious coffee that’s better in every sense, minimise our footprint, and give back the most we can. We want to leave things better than we found them.
What are the key challenges in achieving them, and what kind of leadership do you demonstrate?
It is challenging time to run a manufacturing business. Let alone a coffee one. We are ambitious as we want to not only be the best coffee roastery in the world but also the best for the world. This means we have to work harder and smarter than everyone else. There are plenty of challenges. Packaging and waste are two that we can highlight. Packaging has to balance food safety, atmospheric integrity, cost, and environmental impact. In addition, the lack of a definite roadmap in Australia makes it hard to choose between the various packaging materials. Over the years we have moved from a multi-substrate to a mono substrate which is much easier to recycle. Now, our bags use 30% recycled content, closing that circular loop further.
Can you share a career highlight with us?
There are too many to count. I love coffee and getting to be on the cutting edge of delicious coffee and sustainability every day is a dream come true. A recent one is our 1% for the planet recertification. Over three year, we have given more than $300,000 under the program to for planet causes. That’s a whole lot of impact for a small giant like us. It ensure that we are protecting our habitats as well as restoring them for the future generations.
Can you share a career highlight with us?
There are too many to count. I love coffee and getting to be on the cutting edge of delicious coffee and sustainability every day is a dream come true. A recent one is our 1% for the planet recertification. Over three year, we have given more than $300,000 under the program to for planet causes. That’s a whole lot of impact for a small giant like us. It ensure that we are protecting our habitats as well as restoring them for the future generations.
Finally, what inspired you to pursue both B Corp and Fairtrade certification, and how do you see them complementing each other in driving ethical business practices?
Our inspiration came from a simple belief: better coffee should not only be delicious but also have a positive impact on people and the planet. B Corp certification ensures that our entire operation meets high social, environmental, and governance standards. Fairtrade, on the other hand, guarantees that our coffee farmers are treated fairly and have access to resources for long-term success.
Together, these certifications create a holistic approach to ethical business. It’s not just about sustainability on paper, it’s about making choices that resonate across the supply chain. In the end, every delicious cup of coffee makes a difference. We do this, not because we are perfect but because a lot of change needs to happen and we want to start with ourselves. This is a fulfilling journey and we are only getting started.