Dallmayr
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Thinking ahead.

Coffee is a natural product – and its journey from the coffee farms to our delicatessen is a long one. To organise value chains in a sustainable way, we work daily to conserve natural resources and reduce our ecological footprint. Here, we believe it is vital to take a holistic and proactive approach – one that balances economic, environmental and social dimensions. With each of our projects, concepts and ideas, our “sustainability tree” continues to grow – branch after branch.

What does Dallmayr do?
We live up to our values and act sustainably.

More and more people are looking beyond the rims of their cups and asking questions like: Where does my coffee or tea come from? How is it cultivated? What are the living conditions like for the local farmers and their families? And what can I do myself to help save resources? Increasingly, people want to enjoy the pleasures of coffee and tea with a good conscience. We support this positive development – because in order to produce high-quality coffee on a sustained basis, it is essential to treat the environment and the local people with respect. Only in this way can we secure the long-term livelihoods of the people in coffee-growing countries and establish close and trusted business relationships.

As a family business, we are very serious about the working and living conditions of coffee farmers and their families. Coffee-producing countries are often developing countries with low economic performance, poor education and high levels of population growth.
That’s why for decades, our focus when buying green coffee has been on quality, which also allows farmers to generate higher revenues. Most of this coffee comes from smallholders who still manage their fields in harmony with nature. We are also purchasing an increasing amount of green coffee from sustainable sources and work together with all relevant certification organisations.

We even go one step further by working on specific projects that help to improve the living conditions of people in coffee-growing countries such as Ethiopia and Tanzania. For example, we have been supporting the “Menschen für Menschen” foundation’s Ethiopian aid initiative since 2008. Together, we have already planted over 52 million trees and built a school for more than 1,000 children. Now, in close cooperation with the foundation and with the support of the Bavarian state government, a new coffee region and coffee cooperative are being established, step by step. This is helping us to lay the foundations for comprehensive development aid and long-term improvements to living conditions. In Tanzania, we also support the valuable work of the British animal welfarist and environmental conservationist Jane Goodall.

“We are very proud to have received the German Award for Sustainability Projects in 2021 for our work in Ethiopia.”

Dr. Johannes Dengler,
Member of executive management at Alois Dallmayr Kaffee oHG

We are always thinking ahead, and acting sustainably is a part of our company’s DNA. We have already reached a number of milestones and are planning further projects – such as a switch to environmentally friendly packaging. In its Agenda 2030, the United Nations (UN) has drawn up a catalogue with 17 sustainable development goals at its core. These should serve as guiding principles and be implemented at national level. Our efforts in the area of sustainability are aligned with these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)..

Coffee cultivation: two hands plant a seedling

Indulgence with a focus on sustainability –
these Dallmayr coffees & teas are certified

Certified coffees or teas bear clearly recognisable seals. These guarantee that the plantations are run using sustainable methods and that the farmers receive fair prices.

Naturally outstanding –
Quality from small, distinguished farms

Often, certified coffees from sustainable sources will have an officially recognised seal on their packaging. However, coffees without these seals may nevertheless be sustainable and fairly traded. A coffee may be produced in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable way, but just not have the official seals to show it. After all: obtaining certification can be expensive, and many coffee farms that work to organic standards do not have access to these awards. This is often the case in Ethiopia, where coffee trees are grown predominantly on small farms that use mixed cropping methods. These farms are run according to traditional practices, with hardly any use of fertilisers and pesticides.

A coffee farmer checks the quality of coffee cherries

Other plants thrive on these farms, too – for example banana trees or coconut palms. These are known as shade trees and are beneficial to coffee cultivation. Therefore, this coffee is also sustainable and environmentally friendly, producing a significantly higher-quality harvest for the small farmers. Dallmayr sources most of its Ethiopian coffees from these farms, and provides farmers with a guarantee that it will continue to buy their coffee, even after a poor harvest or an increase in price.

Our focus on using high-quality arabica coffees benefits yields and income in the countries of origin, too. Washed arabicas are usually far more expensive, leading to higher revenues for the coffee farmers.

Our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals:
(8) Decent work and economic growth
(9) Industry, innovation and infrastructure
(12) Responsible consumption and production

Responsible tea pleasure

The journey from the tea garden to the cup is also a long one – and the tea passes through many hands. In addition to satisfying our customers, a healthy environment and fair and safe working conditions are also incredibly important to us.

Spectacular views across a tea-growing regionA harvest worker picks tea leaves on a tea plantation

Our teas come from the world’s finest tea gardens and are always produced using orthodox methods – in other words, according to traditional processes and mainly by hand. As with our coffees, we purchase tea based on long-standing and trusted partnerships. We have established a number of ethical principles that serve as a basis for a successful working relationship with our suppliers – and we assess and review these standards through regular audits.

Some tea gardens have standards that go way beyond the required legal basis. They provide childcare facilities and schools, and offer suitable healthcare. In addition to their wages, the pickers and workers at the tea manufactories often receive additional benefits such as food, gas for cooking or clean drinking water.

“Those who prefer teas with an organic seal will find just what they’re looking for in our tea range. For example, more than two thirds of our pyramid teabag varieties are certified. Depending on availability, we give preference to teas from controlled organic farming. Some teas from the Keo range also bear the Fairtrade seal.”

Christoph Knobloch
Tea buyer
Our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals:
(8) Decent work and economic growth
(9) Industry, innovation and infrastructure
(12) Responsible consumption and production

Raising hope. More than 52 million times.

Trees and wells for Ethiopia

Ethiopian highland arabicas have influenced the flavour of many
Dallmayr coffees since the 1960s. As Germany’s first importer – and still the largest buyer – of
Ethiopian highland arabicas, Dallmayr feels a special bond towards the East African
country. Dallmayr has developed a close relationship with many families there over several generations. That’s why helping to make the country stronger in the long term is a matter that’s particularly close to our hearts.

For a green Ethiopia
Since 2008, we have been supporting the reforestation programmes of the “Menschen für Menschen” foundation with the sale of single-origin coffee from Ethiopia. More than 52 million tree seedlings have been donated to date.* We are therefore helping to tackle the root of a major problem in Ethiopia – the threat of desertification. The trees that grow from the seedlings planted in the Menschen für Menschen foundation’s tree nurseries improve the quality of the soil. Reforestation prevents soil erosion, which in turn helps to secure the livelihoods of local families.

Our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals:
(2) Zero hunger
(13) Climate action
(15) Life on land
Coffee cultivation: two hands around a coffee seedling *Last updated: 07.2023 Menschen für Menschen logo
A harvest worker in front of coffee bushes, holding a basket full of red coffee cherries

Coffee cooperative
Over the next few years, we will be working with the Menschen für Menschen foundation to develop a new coffee region in Ethiopia with small farms. Thanks to an initiative in the Dano project area, we are ensuring that local coffee farmers will profit more from their product in the future. The project is helping to boost agricultural productivity while at the same time creating new prospects for many years to come, especially for young people without work. By increasing productivity, coffee farmers achieve higher yields, which in turn leads to more income.

Our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals:
(8) Decent work and economic growth
(9) Industry, innovation and infrastructure
(12) Responsible consumption and production
An Ethiopian girl drinks clean drinking water from a well

Clean drinking water
Around half of the people in Ethiopia have no access to clean drinking water. We fund the construction of wells with the sale of Ethiopian coffee during sustainability promotions in the retail sector. These wells not only improve the health of Ethiopians, but also their quality of life. For example, the strenuous and dangerous task of fetching water from far-away sources – a job traditionally carried out by women – is no longer necessary. This means that girls in particular have time to go to school.

Our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals:
(6) Clean water and sanitation

High-quality education and equal opportunities

Six out of ten children in Ethiopia aren’t able to go to a school that is appropriate for their age. Around 43% of men and 59% of women are illiterate. However, education is the key to fighting poverty and boosts people’s prospects for the future.

A chance for 1,000 children
In September 2018, we strengthened our partnership with the “Menschen für Menschen” foundation and began work on a further aid programme: the construction of a Dallmayr school for more than 1,000 children aged 7 to 16. By helping to build the school and providing all of the materials – such as furniture, school materials and books – we are supporting the children on their path to a better future.

The construction of three new classroom blocks, an administrative building with a reading room, and two buildings with sanitary facilities was completed in summer 2020.

Learn more about the individual stages of construction here: Find out more!

Our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals:
(4) Quality education
Ethiopian children learning in a schoolA map of Ethiopia showing the project area of Dano

Demonstrating responsibility

Coffee pleasure and climate protection

A closer look at reducing the carbon footprint of a cup of Dallmayr coffee: What are we doing right now? And how can we improve in the future?

It’s a long journey from the coffee plant to the cup, with each step along the value chain generating emissions. One key question is this: Where do most of the gases that affect the climate originate? Surprisingly, it’s in the country of origin itself – during cultivation and processing. Even transporting large quantities of coffee by ship is of lesser significance. On the other hand, once the coffee has reached your home, it makes a big difference whether you prepare it with a fully automatic machine or in a French press.

Carbon footprint of the Dallmayr Coffee Group
In 2020, we drew up a climate balance sheet for the company, taking into account our five roasting locations, the administration of the Coffee Group, and Dallmayr Gastronomie Service. We worked with the company ClimatePartner to measure our CO₂ emissions in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard (GHGP) and calculate our Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF). Included in this calculation were raw materials such as green coffee and tea, our heating and energy consumption, employee travel and business trips, and even our office supplies. The balance sheet also takes packaging materials and logistics into account.

In order to reduce our footprint in the long term, we avoid and reduce CO₂ emissions wherever currently possible. For instance, we use highly efficient roasting systems during production. We review our lighting concept and optimise machine settings. We focus on green electricity from renewable energy sources at all of the Coffee Group’s locations in Germany, at the Delicatessen in Munich, and all of our German Vending & Office branches. Our subsidiaries at two locations in Brunswick and Bremen also generate electricity using photovoltaic systems.

Coffee seedlings on a coffee plantation

We will keep an eye on the progress and success of our measures in the long-term, will regularly update our CCF, and shall continue to look to the future by working on further emission-saving solutions in all areas, such as recyclable alternatives for our packaging.

Working against climate change at the source
We have a limited influence on CO₂ emissions in the countries of origin, so we give something back to the local people in other ways. For example, together with the “Menschen für Menschen” foundation, we have been planting tree seedlings in Ethiopia since 2008. As they grow, the seedlings absorb carbon dioxide and therefore make a valuable contribution to climate protection. Furthermore, the trees help to stop soil erosion and prevent desertification. To date, we have planted more than 52 million tree seedlings with the foundation. These trees would cover an area about the size of 4,200 football pitches.

Our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals: (13) Climate action

Environmentally friendly solutions for coffee to go

We are pushing for reusable solutions – for more responsible coffee pleasure on the go. Whenever there’s no way around disposable cups, we make them as environmentally friendly as possible.

Cups that “grow back”
With coffee to go, there’s a great deal of potential for conserving resources and avoiding waste. Our new cups for the food-service sector are a good example of an alternative single-use solution: they are produced in a climate-neutral way and are made of 100% renewable, plant-based raw materials. The same can be said for the matching lids, which we also offer with the cup.

In cooperation with the company ClimatePartner, we calculate how much unavoidable CO₂ emissions are generated during production, and then offset these emissions as part of a specific climate-protection project. You can find a clear overview of the project and its current status on the ClimatePartner website using a tracking ID.

Coffee to go cups from Dallmayr produced in a climate-neutral way, made from 100% renewable, plant-based raw materials
  • Paper materials from PEFC-
    certified forests
  • Bio-based plastic
    coating made of sugar cane on the inside of the cup
  • Stability and drinking
    comfort – just like with a
    conventional cup
  • Free from fossil-fuel-based and
    oil-based plastics
  • Calculation of all CO₂-
    emissions and CO₂ compensation
    through a climate protection project
  • Clear overview
    of the climate protection project using the ClimatePartner
    tracking ID Climate-neutral cups

More ideas for reusable products
Another initiative for our Vending & Office coffee machines is the use of more environmentally friendly disposable cups made from 100% renewable raw materials. We’re also working with customers to develop innovative multiple-use systems, for example for the University of Bayreuth. The university has special reverse vending machines for reusable cups, where students automatically receive their deposit back via a barcode. What began years ago with sustainable coffee on campus has now become a flagship project.

Independent of this pilot project, many Dallmayr vending machines (table-top machines) operate without a cup dispenser unit – in other words, they prepare beverages in your office mug or other reusable cup, for example the Dallmayr Joycup. What’s more, vending machines with a cup mechanism normally have a button that stops a cup being dispensed or a sensor that detects if a cup has already been placed on the machine, meaning that reusable solutions work here, too.

Our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals:
(12) Responsible consumption and production

From one person to another

Our commitment to regional communities

We do business around the world – and at the same time have strong regional roots. As a medium-sized family company, being committed to the local communities in our home region is a part of our company culture. We give some of our success back to the community by donating to social organisations – whether it’s thousands of coffee packs for the “Münchner Tafel” food bank, a new coffee machine for an inclusive café, or tricycles for a children’s home.

“We cannot thank the tireless dedication of the workforce enough – and are delighted to give the hospital heroes an enjoyable break away from their gruelling daily routine on the wards with more than 133,000 cups of coffee.”

Julia Dengler Member of executive management at Alois Dallmayr Kaffee oHG

133,000 cups of coffee for Munich hospitals
In these times of COVID-19, we have launched the “Lokale Helden unterstützen” (support local heroes) fundraising campaign for Munich hospitals – and have provided around 7,000 nurses, doctors and other staff with more than 2,000 packs of coffee.

Dallmayr donates coffee to Munich hospitals

Dallmayr as a fair employer

Each one of our staff contributes an incredible amount to our success – and that’s something we greatly appreciate.

A passion for life’s special pleasures – our company culture
Dallmayr is more than just coffee. Dallmayr is a promise. For more than 300 years, our name has stood for first-class product quality. Day after day, our employees put their many years of experience, expertise and above all their passion into every cup of coffee. In short: we love coffee – and everything we can make from it. This passion makes our profession a true craft. It drives us to constantly take new paths and to develop unique and sustainable solutions for bringing pleasure to our customers.

We are delighted to be able to say that our employees are proud to work for Dallmayr. They thank us by remaining loyal to the company – often for many years or even decades. We give something back by providing a positive working atmosphere, fair remuneration, a healthy work-life balance, additional staff benefits and a wide range of development opportunities.

Each employee receives performance-related remuneration that exceeds the statutory and collectively agreed payment.

Group photo of Dallmayr employees in front of the Delicatessen in Munich

Equal opportunities & diversity
Dallmayr is a family-run company – but while our roots remain in Munich, we still operate all over the world. We have around 4,200 employees in 18 countries around the globe, with each one using their skills and individual talent to ensure that Dallmayr is successful. It’s second nature for us to be tolerant and open-minded in the way we think, act and do business. We offer equal opportunities to everyone, and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind – whether on the grounds of ethnicity or nationality, gender, religion, ideology, age, disability, sexual orientation, colour, political views or social background. We embrace diversity and actively promote inclusion – at our Bremen site, for example, we have 15 permanent employees with learning disabilities. We are also working constantly to increase the proportion of women across all levels of the company, especially in management positions.

Work and family
As a family-run business, we have a special understanding of the importance of family. We believe a healthy balance between professional and private life is vital. It keeps us healthy in the long term, keeps us motivated and therefore improves efficiency. With flexible working hours and options to work part-time, we create the ideal conditions for both women and men to reconcile work and family life.

Heath and well-being
Our customers aren’t the only ones to savour moments of indulgence with Dallmayr: our employees also enjoy these moments each and every day. Our offerings range from balanced meals in our in-house canteen at Dallmayr in Munich to fully equipped kitchenettes for coffee and tea at break times. Furthermore, we attach great importance to high standards of health and safety for all employees. In addition to first-aid training and various courses in occupational health and safety, a company doctor promotes employee well-being and helps staff to stay healthy.

Our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals:
(8) Decent work and economic growth
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