Pablo & Rusty's Coffee Roasters Sustainability

Solar Panel Initiative

Some of our highlights over the past few years include being one of the first coffee roasters in Australia to install rooftop solar panels. Meaning a large percentage of our power usage is drawn directly from our solar system and any leftover is put back into the grid.

7 11 13

BioPak Products

We shifted our single-use cups and lids to BioPak products. We’re also working with local communities to donate coffee chaff, coffee jute bags and grounds to local community gardens and co-ops.

12

Grounds from brewing saved from landfill

Last year we commercially composted 23 tonnes of coffee grounds as a biproduct of our coffee brewing, diverting it from landfill and repurposing it to improve soil health. These grounds are also collected by our local gardening and permaculture community. They are an excellent source of nitrogen for gardens.

11 13

Carbon Offset

We were able to purchase 3,464 verified carbon units to offset our C02 emissions. These were both Australian and international carbon-offsetting initiatives. We partnered with the team at Pangolin Associates who helped us find the best initiatives to support from setting up wind farms to tree planting programs.

11 13

Evidence

Over $350k donated under 1% for the planet

Over $350k has been donated under the 1% for the planet program.

11 13 14 15 17

Closing the Loop: Our All-In Approach to Circular Coffee

We’re dead serious about tackling waste in the coffee game, and that means rethinking everything from packaging to byproducts. We’ve launched our specialty coffee pods, which are fully home compostable, cutting out 750kg of plastic packaging each year. Our takeaway cups and lids are certified compostable too, thanks to a decade-long partnership with BioPak. We’ve also swapped plastic mailers for 100% recyclable cardboard subscription boxes and introduced our Nitro Coffee in recyclable aluminium cans, replacing 120kg of plastic and aluminium from the convenience market annually. Beyond packaging, we ensure our byproducts get a second life. Eight tonnes of our coffee grounds were commercially composted in 2024, and we make grounds available for our local gardening community. Hessian sacks and coffee husks? They’re repurposed for local community gardens. It’s all part of our commitment to keeping materials in use and out of landfill.

11 12 13

Evidence

Leading the Charge: Our "Triple Threat" Commitment to Sustainability Excellence

We believe in walking the talk, and that’s why we’ve pursued and achieved what we call our "triple accreditation". One we’re incredibly proud of. We’re a Certified B Corporation, recertifying in 2024 with a score of 97.1, placing us among the top few B Corps that manufacture goods in Australia. We’re also one of Australia’s first coffee roasters to become a 1% for the Planet member, committing 1% of our revenue (not just profit!) to environmental causes, donating over $125,000 in 2024. To top it off, we were the first coffee roaster in Australia to be a certified Carbon Neutral Organisation under the Australian Government-backed Climate Active program, offsetting 3,810 tonnes of carbon in 2023 and again in 2024. These certifications aren't just badges; they shape our decisions and drive us to keep doing better across every part of our business.

Evidence

Brewing Better: Sustainable Operations from Solar Power to Ethical Sourcing

Our commitment to sustainability is brewed into our daily operations. We’ve invested significantly in making our roastery as green as possible. That includes installing a Loring roaster, which slashes energy use by up to 80% compared to conventional roasters. Our rooftop solar panels generated 31.48 MWh in 2024, with nearly 30 MWh used right here in our roastery, covering about 19% of our total power. It’s not just about our own footprint; it’s about supporting a better supply chain. In FY2023-2024, we purchased 84,046 kg of Fairtrade green coffee and paid $47,395 in Fairtrade premiums , ensuring farmers get a fairer deal. We also put our money where our mouth is by spending $634,000 with other B Corp certified suppliers in 2023 , because we believe in supporting businesses that share our values.

Championing Our Community & Planet: Partnerships for Greater Impact

We know we can make a bigger splash by working together. That’s why we’re proud to partner with a range of awesome not-for-profits through our 1% for the Planet membership and beyond. In 2023-2024, this meant over $125,000 in contributions , plus significant product donations. We backed OzHarvest with over $34,000 in products to help feed those in need , supported Surfrider Foundation with over $14,000, contributing to their successful campaign against the PEP-11 offshore oil and gas exploration , and donated $10,000 plus $8,000 in products to the Bob Brown Foundation for takayna/Tarkine conservation. Our team also gets hands-on, planting seedlings with Greening Australia and Keep It Cool. It’s about tangible support for those doing vital work on the ground.

Evidence

Investing in Our People: Fostering a Thriving, Engaged, and Supported Team

Our team is the heart of Pablo & Rusty’s, and we’re committed to making this a genuinely great place to work. We were chuffed to become Great Place To Work Certified™ in 2024. We foster a diverse and inclusive team (with varied genders, ages, and cultural backgrounds) and back this up with solid support like our Employee Assistance Program (Uprise), a zero-tolerance Anti-Bullying Policy with ongoing training, and 194 hours of volunteer and training leave used by our team in 2024 for things like tree planting and professional development. Plus, all permanent team members get an extra week of bonus leave each year – because everyone deserves a proper break (609 hours used in 2024!).

Evidence

Empowering Sustainable Choices: Helping Our Customers Join the Journey

We believe that making sustainable choices should be easy and rewarding for our customers. That’s why we actively promote our HuskeeCup partnership, with over 3,000 of these reusable cups (made from waste coffee husk!) purchased by our café partners and online community in FY23-24. We provide clear info on how to correctly dispose of our certified compostable packaging and make our used coffee grounds available for local gardeners to collect from our roastery. Customers can even use their P&R Reward Points to help us plant trees with partners like Keep It Cool. It’s all about giving people practical ways to reduce waste and contribute to a healthier planet, one coffee at a time.