2023 Environmental Social Governance Report
We are proud to share and celebrate the progress Caribou Coffee has made on our path to greater sustainability and invite you to read more in our 2023 Environmental Social Governance (ESG) report. Our founders opened the very first Caribou Coffee in 1992 with a vision to build personal connection into the coffeehouse experience. For over thirty years, that focus has cultivated our global standard for high-quality ingredients, specialty-grade coffee, sustainable practices, and real connections.
Caribou’s third annual ESG Report outlines the development and advancement of our environmental, social responsibility, and governance initiatives in 2023. The report is a formal way to document our progress, while also highlighting areas for transparency and growth.
“The importance of conducting our business in a sustainable, ethical, and responsible manner guides our brand purpose,” says John Butcher, President, and CEO of Caribou Coffee. “And I am energized by the opportunities ahead to deepen our sustainability work and forge even stronger connections within the communities we serve – here, near, and far.”
At the heart of every cup and interaction lies our purpose: Together, we create day-making experiences that spark chain reactions of good. Our purpose gives us focus every day, shaping our actions and decisions. Whether it’s elevating daily coffee runs, committing to the future of coffee with our partners at origin, or investing in our coffeehouse communities, day-making happens when we take the ordinary and spark it into the extraordinary.
Caribou Coffee has grown to be a global brand with more than 800 stores in 11 different countries. We understand the responsibilities we have to our team members and our guests. And as our coffeehouse footprint continues to grow, we are focused on opportunities to embed sustainable practices into our day-to-day business in new ways, while also ensuring our current commitments are scalable and impactful. This years’ ESG report covers our three strategic pillars: coffee and products, culture and people, and communities and environments.
Coffee
Caribou Coffee crafts a coffee experience that delivers fantastic quality in each cup, using only sustainably sourced, specialty-grade coffee. We also insist on using real ingredients for all our handcrafted beverages and are committed to 100% cage-free eggs by the end of 2025. Using premium and real ingredients ensures a coffee experience that delivers quality from source to taste.
“Our commitment to quality means upholding high standards, not just for our coffee, but for everything on our menu,” says Carrie Sazama, Director of Product Innovation. “Keeping up these standards is crucial for giving our guests the exceptional experience they know and love.”
Culture
Caribou’s success stems from our culture and the people who cultivate it. We strive to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where all team members feel they belong. To help us do that, we prioritize the focus areas of culture, workforce diversity, wages and benefits, and talent acquisition and retention.
“We understand our team members are the driving force behind our shared sense of purpose,” says Stacey Garry, Chief Human Resources Officer at Caribou Coffee. “And that when we prioritize their wellbeing and development, our business and the places we’re a part of thrive.”
This year we developed our first Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): our Women’s and LGBTQ+ ERGs. The shared mission of these groups is to, “unleash the impact of authentic leadership to drive incredible business results.” ERGs not only bring people together, but are safe spaces that facilitate discussion, drive initiatives, and propel career development. We are excited to continue to grow our ERG programming and participation.
Community
Caribou’s impact stretches globally, and we believe in doing good for and with our communities here, near, and far. Our “here, near, and far” approach empowers each coffeehouse to support local causes and organizations in their communities. Local engagement and impact increases with every new coffeehouse we open.
We’re also focused on doing our part to protect the planet, implementing, and promoting sustainable practices in our coffeehouses, operations, and throughout our supply chain. In 2023, we completed our second corporate carbon footprint, allowing us to understand and analyze our emissions as a company. Using insights from this data, we have identified opportunities for emissions reduction through enhancing energy efficiency across our operations, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, optimizing our supply chain, and considering innovative options for the production and procurement of green coffee and food and beverage menu items.
Looking ahead
The practice of annual reporting allows us to not only celebrate our successes but also hold ourselves accountable and identify opportunities. Operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner is fundamental to who we are as a brand and as a business.
“Thank you to our team, our guests, and our partners for your continued support and partnership,” says John Butcher. “I strongly believe that together, we create day-making experiences that spark a chain reaction of good.”