At Lyons Instant Coffee, our commitment to sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We firmly believe in caring for the environment and taking the necessary steps to ensure a better future for generations to come. With that in mind, we have implemented various initiatives and practices to minimize our impact on the planet and promote responsible business practices.
Over the past five years, we have worked closely with our suppliers and producers to actively reduce our environmental footprint. One notable achievement has been our efforts to minimize coffee waste. Through strategic measures and collaborative partnerships, we have successfully reduced coffee waste by 0.13% of our output, contributing to a more sustainable supply chain.
Water conservation is another key area where we have made significant progress. By implementing innovative technologies and adopting efficient practices, we have managed to reduce the water usage in our production processes by an impressive 40%. This reduction not only helps preserve this precious resource but also ensures the long-term sustainability of our operations.
Investing in energy efficiency projects has been another important focus for us. Recognizing the impact of energy consumption on the environment, we have allocated £175,000 towards initiatives that promote energy efficiency. By optimizing our processes and adopting greener technologies, we have successfully minimized our energy consumption and reduced our carbon footprint.
Ethical sourcing is a fundamental pillar of our sustainability strategy. We are committed to using 100% FSC certified packaging, promoting responsible forest management practices. Furthermore, we prioritize sourcing coffee that meets stringent certification standards, such as Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certification. Currently, 42% of the coffee we use meets these criteria, ensuring that farmers and their communities receive fair compensation and that environmental conservation efforts are supported.
To ensure responsible business practices throughout our supply chain, we prioritize working with suppliers who have undergone SMETA audits. This helps ensure that social, ethical, and environmental standards are met, providing transparency and accountability in our sourcing processes. Currently, 90% of our suppliers have undergone SMETA audits, reflecting our commitment to upholding ethical standards.
Reducing, reusing, and recycling are important principles we embrace. While we have made great strides in making our consumer packaging 87% recyclable, we are determined to reach 100% recyclability. Our ultimate goal is to achieve zero waste to landfill as part of our Carbon Neutral status, which we aim to accomplish by 2025. These efforts reflect our commitment to minimizing waste and promoting a circular economy.
For more detailed information on our sustainable, ethical, and Carbon Neutral policies, we encourage you to reach out to our dedicated team. We are passionate about sharing our initiatives and progress towards a more sustainable future. Together, we can make a difference and build a better world for future generations.