The Bean Shop Coffee Roastery –
Ethical Statement & History
Our History
Founded in 2003 by John and Lorna Bruce, The Bean Shop started with a simple vision: to offer good coffee for everyone. From the very beginning, we have remained committed to this vision, continually growing while staying true to our roots. Over the years, we have built a reputation for roasting high-quality coffee beans with a focus on sustainability, ethical practices, and a deep commitment to our community.
Our Ethical Commitment
At The Bean Shop, we believe that good coffee goes hand in hand with good practices. This is why we strive to run our business in a way that is both environmentally and socially responsible. We are dedicated to making a positive impact in everything we do—from the beans we source to the way we operate day to day.
Environmentally Responsible
We are deeply committed to reducing our environmental footprint. Over the years, we’ve taken concrete steps to minimise waste and limit our impact on the planet:
• Compostable Packaging: All of our coffee packaging is compostable, and we’ve eliminated single-use plastics from our business entirely.
• Recycled and Recyclable Materials: We use basic brown cardboard that is both recycled and recyclable, ensuring that our packaging is as sustainable as possible.
• Minimising Waste: We roast only what we need for the day, reducing coffee waste and ensuring that every batch is fresh. We also minimise printing to reduce paper consumption.
• Solar Power: We are in the process of installing solar panels at our roastery to power our operations sustainably.
• Electric Van: In line with our eco-friendly values, we have switched to an electric van for a significant portion of our deliveries, reducing our carbon footprint.
• Tree Planting: Every month, we plant trees in the Scottish Highlands, and we have established our very own Bean Shop Grove to help offset our environmental impact.
Social Responsibility
We believe that treating people with fairness, respect, and dignity is just as important as the quality of our coffee. Our commitment to social responsibility is reflected in the way we operate and the way we support both our employees and the communities we serve:
• Fair Pay & Family Values: We are committed to paying our staff a real living wage and fostering a family-like environment at work. We believe in offering stability, career progression, and opportunities for growth within our business.
• Supporting Charities: Through our charity blends, we donate a portion of our profits to causes close to our hearts. We support CHAS (Children’s Hospice Association Scotland) and the SCAA (Scottish Community Air Ambulance), making sure that every cup of coffee we sell helps make a difference.
• Sponsorships: We sponsor a child in Uganda through the Word Vision Programme, helping to support communities and provide educational opportunities for children in need.
Supporting Local Causes
At The Bean Shop, we are deeply committed to our local community in Perthshire. We actively support local fundraising efforts and donate coffee to good causes across the region. Whether it’s supplying coffee for charity events, community fundraisers, or local initiatives, we believe in giving back to the community that has supported us since our inception. By doing so, we help foster a spirit of goodwill and make a positive impact on the people around us.
Ethical Sourcing & Fair Trade
At The Bean Shop, we take great care to ensure that the coffee we roast is sourced in an ethical and sustainable way:
• Responsible Sourcing: We buy our coffee from smallholder farms where the workers are treated fairly and the farming practices are designed with the environment in mind.
• Fairtrade, Organic, and Direct Trade: Our coffee lineup includes Fairtrade certified, organic, and direct trade options, ensuring that farmers receive fair compensation and that the coffee is grown in ways that protect the environment.
• Strong Supplier Relationships: We work with reputable suppliers who share our commitment to ethical sourcing, and we value long-term, trusted relationships with everyone in our supply chain.
Our Future: Always Looking to Be Better
As we continue to grow, we remain focused on improving the way we operate. We’re always looking for new ways to be better—whether that’s improving the sustainability of our products, finding innovative ways to reduce waste, or strengthening our impact on the community.
At The Bean Shop, we believe that running a successful business should go beyond just making great coffee. It’s about making a difference, both locally and globally, and leaving the world a little better than we found it.
Thank you for choosing The Bean Shop. Together, we’re not just brewing coffee—we’re brewing change.
