Common Good Coffee is a New Zealand social enterprise that’s redefining what it means to be a coffee company. Born from the same visionary team behind various other iconic New Zealand cafes and brands, Common Good Coffee was founded with a mission to support communities both locally and globally. They donate $5 from every kilogram of coffee sold to Joyya, a social enterprise working to create dignified employment to those in Kolkata, India . With over $200,000 already redistributed, their impact is real and growing. Their coffee is certified Fairtrade and organic, reflecting a deep commitment to ethical sourcing and environmental sustainability, from bean to compostable cup.
Rooted in community, collaboration, and care for people and planet, Common Good Coffee is proving that doing good and doing business can go hand in hand. We sat down with Adrian Palmer, General Manager of Common Good Coffee, to talk about how this purpose led approach plays out day to day, and why it’s so important to them.
Tell me something that excites you about your role within Common Good Coffee?
The opportunity to be part of a team that uses business as a force for good. Within this there are myriad challenges and opportunities that make what we do a really fulfilling place to be.
What are Common Good Coffee’s sustainability priorities?
Sustainability is a big word with a wide range of outcomes. For us, livelihood sustainability for people in the supply chain who are often getting a raw deal has always been our priority. We need to look after this planet for all of us, but we’re also really passionate about not forgetting about the communities around the world who still rely on our commitment to trade fairly. Our ‘raison d’etre’ is that our profits are donated to an organization called Joyya based out of Kolkata, India, whose mission is to spark good in places of extreme poverty and modern slavery.
What are the key challenges in achieving them, and what kind of leadership do you demonstrate?
Running a business where you’re trying to do the best for growers, the planet, your customers and turn a profit to donate at the end of it is a tough ask. You have to lead with a mindset of focus, doing what you can well, and being ok living in the tension of not ticking every box out there. We exist to do good, not look good, so leadership that resists the temptation to jump on trends is important – but tough!
Can you share a career highlight with us?
Numbers aren’t everything, but through selling Fairtrade organic coffee, our coffee drinking customers have generated nearly $450,000 that has been donated to spark good through Joyya.
Finally, what does Fairtrade mean for you and Common Good Coffee?
Fairtrade provides a trusted icon of meaning that our customers can rely on, that we are who we say we are. In a world increasingly full of greenwash/fairwash, this is important.