2022 Communication on Progress

African Coffee Roasters EPZ Limited

Published date

June 30, 2022

No. of questions

57

CEO Statement

Signed

  • Governance

    Policies and Responsibilities

    1. Does the Board / highest governance body or most senior executive of the company:

    2. Does the company have a publicly stated commitment regarding the following sustainability topics?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we plan to have a commitment within 2 years

    Yes, and the commitment is focused on our own operations

    Yes, and the commitment includes our own operations and the value chain

    Yes, and the commitment includes our own operations and the value chain along with communities and society

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    3. Does the company have in place a code of conduct regarding each of the following sustainability topics?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we plan to have a code of conduct within two years

    Yes, focused on employee conduct

    Yes, focused on employees and suppliers

    Yes, focused on employees, suppliers, and other business relationships

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    4. Has the company appointed an individual or group responsible for each of the following sustainability topics?

    No one is specifically responsible for this topic

    Yes, with limited influence on outcomes (e.g., limited access to internal information, limited decision-making authority)

    Yes, with moderate influence on outcomes (e.g., has access to relevant information, reports to senior manager)

    Yes, with direct influence of some outcomes (e.g., has access to relevant information, includes one or more senior manager with decision making rights

    Yes, with direct influence at the highest levels of the organization (e.g., has access to relevant information, includes most senior members of organization)

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    5. Does the company have a formal structure(s) (such as a cross-functional committee) to address each of the following sustainability topics?

    No formal structure

    Yes, and with limited influence on outcomes (e.g., limited access to internal information necessary to understand risks, poor representation from relevant departments or functions)

    Yes, with moderate influence on outcomes (e.g., it includes representatives of some functions, departments, or business units most relevant for addressing the risks concerned, has access to relevant information, reports to senior manager)

    Yes, with direct influence on some outcomes (e.g., it includes representatives of functions, departments, or business units most relevant for addressing the risks concerned, has access to relevant information, it involves one or more members of senior management)

    Yes, and with direct influence at the highest level of the organization (e.g., full access to relevant information, it involves members at highest level of organization)

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Prevention

    6. Does the company have a process or processes to assess risk?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we are planning to develop one in the next two years

    Yes, related to our own operations

    Yes, related to our own operations and entire value chain and other business relationships

    Human rights risks

    Labour rights risks

    Environmental risks

    Corruption risks

    7. Does the company have a due diligence process through which it identifies, prevents, mitigates, and accounts for actual and potential negative impacts on sustainability topics?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we are planning to develop one in the next two years

    Yes, related to our own operations

    Yes, related to our own operations and entire value chain and other business relationships

    Human rights risks

    Labour rights risks

    Environmental risks

    Corruption risks

    Concerns and grievance mechanisms

    8. Are there any processes through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct related to human rights, labour rights, environment, or anti-corruption?

    8.1. Please provide additional detail regarding the process(es) the company has through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct.

    No

    Yes

    Is the process communicated to all employees/workers in local languages?

    Is the process available to non-employees (e.g., contractors, vendors, suppliers)?

    Is the process confidential (e.g., whistleblowing process)?

    Are there processes in place to avoid retaliation?

    Can concerns be raised about suppliers or other business relationships (e.g., clients, partners, etc.)

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Optional comment
    The process is available in English which is the official language of communication in the workplace

    9. Does the company provide or enable access to effective remedy to right holders / stakeholders where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact?

    No process to enable remedy to stakeholders

    Remedy available to some stakeholders (i.e., some geographies, employees only)

    Remedy is available to all affected stakeholders

    Remedy is available to all stakeholders, and suppliers are expected to have similar policies

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Lessons

    10. How does the company capture lessons regarding each of the following sustainability topics?

    No lessons are regularly captured

    Conducts root cause analyses/investigation of major incidents

    Conducts root cause analyses/investigation and changes organizational policies, processes, and practices accordingly

    Systematically conducts root cause analyses/investigation and leverages learnings to influence both internal and external affairs

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Executive Pay

    11. Is executive pay linked to performance on one or more of the following sustainability topics?

    No, and we have no intention to change

    No, but we plan to within two years

    Yes

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Board Composition

    12. Percentage of individuals within the company’s Board / highest governance body by:

    Number/Percentage

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Total number of board members (#)

    5

    Male (%)

    100

    Female (%)

    0

    Non-binary (%)

    0

    Under 30 years old (%)

    0

    30-50 years old (%)

    1

    Above 50 years old (%)

    4

    From minority or vulnerable groups (%)

    0

    Executive (%)

    1

    Independent (%)

    4

    13. Do you produce sustainability reporting according to:

    Data Assurance

    14. Is the information disclosed in this questionnaire assured by a third-party?

    Audit reports

  • Human Rights

    Materiality / Saliency

    1. Which of the following has the company identified as material human rights issues connected with its operations and/or value chain, whether based on their salience (i.e., the most severe potential negative impacts on people) or another basis?

    Response

    8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the human rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    Practical actions taken include; 1.Development and implementation of a human rights policy 2. SMETA 4 Pillar audit certification 3. Initiation of an assess and address system for child labour, forced labour, discrimination, and workplace violence and harassment under the 2020 Rainforest Alliance Certification Program 4. Supplier code of conduct which details what is acceptable in relation to supplier working conditions including minimum wage, freedom of association, non-discrimination of workers, health and safety, working hours and forbids any form of child labour. 5. Human resource Policy document

  • Labour

    Commitment

    1. Does the company have a policy commitment in relation to the following labour rights principles?

    No, and we have no plans to develop a policy

    No, but we plan to in the next two years

    Yes, included within a broader policy

    Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    2021

    Forced labour

    2021

    Child labour

    2021

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    2021

    Occupational safety and health

    2021

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    1.1. For each labour rights policy, is it:

    Aligned with international labour standards?

    Publicly available?

    Approved at most senior level of the company?

    Applied to the company’s own operations?

    Applied to the company’s supply chain and/or other business relationships?

    Developed involving labour rights expertise from inside and outside the company?

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    Prevention

    2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following labour rights issues?

    No engagement on this topic

    To better understand the risks/ impacts in question

    To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To assess progress in preventing/ mitigating the risks /impacts in question

    To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with this labour rights issue?

    Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce

    Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)

    Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan

    Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders, in particular workers' organizations, to address the issue

    Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    No action within reporting period

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Communication to Management on recruiting procedures and importance of adherance to the procedures

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    4. Who receives training for the following labour rights issues?

    No training provided

    Select employees

    All employees

    Contractors

    Direct suppliers of the organization

    Indirect suppliers of the organization

    Other – such as partners, clients, etc.

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    5. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following labour rights issues?

    No monitoring of progress

    Review issues on ad-hoc basis

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    Performance

    6. What is the percentage of employees covered under collective bargaining agreements?

    Percent of employees (%)

    Unknown

    Employees covered under collective bargaining (%)

    0
    Optional comment
    Employees are not part of any workers organisation

    7. What is the percentage of employees in a trade union or other workers' organization?

    Percent of employees (%)

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Employees in a trade union or on a worker committee (%)

    0

    8. In the course of the reporting period, what was the percentage of women in:

    Percent of women (%)

    Unknown

    Senior leadership level position

    37

    Non-executive board

    0
    Optional comment
    We do not have a non executive board

    9. What was the average ratio of the basic salary and remuneration of women to men (comparing jobs of equal value) during the reporting period?

    Salary ratio (%)

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Women / Men (%)

    100

    10. In the course of the reporting period, how frequently were workers injured (injuries per hour worked)?

    Frequency of injury

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Frequency of injury

    6

    11. In the course of the reporting period, what was the company’s incident rate?

    Incident rate

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Incident rate

    2.4

    Response and Reporting

    12. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact associated with the following labour rights issues?

    Yes

    No

    Choose to not disclose

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    No cases reported

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    No cases reported

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    13. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the labour rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    Actions; 1. Update of the human resource policy 2. Training of welfare committee on Labour rights 3. Implementation of the assess and address system for child labour, forced labour, discrimination and workplace violence and harassment 4. Smeta 4 pillar audit

  • Environment

    Commitment

    1. Does the company have a formal policy on the following environmental topics?

    No, and we have no plans to develop a policy

    No, but we plan to in the next two years

    Yes, included within a broader policy

    Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    2021

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    2021

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    2021

    Energy & Resource Use

    2021

    1.1. For each environmental policy, is it:

    Aligned with international environmental standards?

    Publicly available?

    Approved at most senior level of the company?

    Applied to the company’s own operations?

    Applied to the company’s supply chain and/or other business relationships?

    Developed involving environmental expertise from inside and outside the company?

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    Prevention

    2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following environmental issues?

    No engagement on this topic

    To better understand the risks/ impacts in question

    To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To assess progress in preventing/ mitigating the risks/ impacts in question

    To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with these environmental topics?

    Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce

    Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)

    Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan

    Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders to address the issue

    Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    No action within reporting period

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    4. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following environmental topics?

    No monitoring of progress

    Review issues on ad-hoc basis

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Through air emissions analysis

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    5. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy for any actual impacts associated with the following environmental issue(s)?

    Yes

    No

    Choose to not disclose

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    Climate Action

    6. What were the company’s gross global greenhouse gas emissions for the reporting period?

    Scope 1 Emissions

    Emissions (tCO2e)

    132.5

    Scope 2 Emissions

    Emissions (tCO2e)

    132.5

    Scope 3 Emissions

    Emissions (tCO2e)

    0

    7. What percentage of the company's revenue was invested in R&D of low-carbon products/services during this reporting period?

    Percent of revenue (%)

    8. Has the organization acted to support climate change adaptation and resilience?

    Energy / Resource Use

    9. Please report the company's renewable energy consumption as a percentage of total energy consumption in the reporting period.

    % of total energy consumption

    Technology

    10. What percent of the company's revenue came from environmentally friendly products / services during this reporting period?

    Percent of total revenue (%)

    Sector-specific Questions

    11. Which sector(s) does the company operate in? If diversified, choose top 3 by revenue.

    Sector-specific: Water

    12. Please provide details regarding the company's water withdrawal and consumption (own operations) during the reporting period.

    Water withdrawal (volume of water in megaliters):

    Mega-liters

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Total

    Groundwater:

    Surface water:

    Rainwater:

    Wastewater:

    Percentage of water withdrawn in regions with high or extremely high water stress (%)

    Water consumption (volume of water in megaliters):

    Mega-liters

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Total

    3.5

    Groundwater:

    Surface water:

    Rainwater:

    Wastewater:

    Percentage of water consumed in regions with high or extremely high water stress (%)

    13. Please provide details about the company’s water intensity of products in regions with high or extremely high water stress.

    Water intensity of products (cubic meter/$):

    Sector-specific: Forest, biodiversity, and land use

    14. Please report the number and area (in hectares) of sites owned, leased, or managed by the company in or adjacent to protected areas and/or key biodiversity areas (KBA).

    Number

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Sites

    We are not adjacent to any protected or key diversity areas

    Hectares

    We are not adjacent to any protected or key diversity areas

    15. What area (in hectares) of natural ecosystems was converted during the reporting period in areas owned, leased, or managed by the company?

    Conversion of natural resources (hectares)

    16. Is the company supporting or implementing project(s) focused on ecosystem restoration and protection?

    No

    No, but we plan to in the next 2 years

    Yes

    Forest ecosystem restoration

    Other ecosystem restoration

    Reforestation

    Natural regeneration

    Agroforestry

    Set-aside land

    Biodiversity offsetting

    Other (please specify in text box)

    Overall Environment

    21. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the environment principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    Practical actions taken include; 1. Established an environmental policy that is in line with the UN Global Compact goals and communicates our organization’s commitment to environmental sustainability to all of our stakeholders. 2. Participated in the Young SDG Innovators Program 2021 to identify how we can adress the Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from our operation 3.Conducted a baseline study of the CO2 emissions from our energy use 4.Managed to recycle at least 95% of our factory generated waste 5. Converted our Nespresso-compatible coffeecapsule production line to EU Certified bio-sourced raw materials and are 100% home compostable

  • Anti-corruption

    Commitment

    1. Does the company have an anti-corruption compliance programme?

    2. Does your company have policies and recommendations for employees on how to act in case of doubt and/or in situations that may represent a conflict of interest, e.g. with regard to gifts and hospitality, donations, sponsorship, or interactions with public officials?

    Prevention

    3. Who receives training on anti-corruption and integrity?

    Optional comment
    We have not conducted training for the reporting year. Plan is to conduct the training this year. Training will be done for all employees

    4. Does the company monitor its anti-corruption compliance programme?

    Response and Reporting

    5. Please report the company's total number and nature of incidents of corruption during the reporting year.

    Number of incident(s)

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Confirmed during the current year, but related to previous years

    Confirmed during the current year, and related to this year

    Optional comment
    No corruption incidences reported

    6. Within the reporting period, what measures has the company taken to address suspected incidents of corruption independently or in response to a dispute or investigation by a government regulator?

    7. Does your company engage in Collective Action against corruption?

    8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the anti-corruption principle, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    Practical actions taken include; 1. Development of an anti corruption policy 2. Development of a supplier code of conduct which is signed off by our suppliers ensuring they manage their operations and relations in a way that minimizes any adverse impacts on sustainable development including not engaging in any corruption activities 3. Certification against the SMETA 4 Pillar Standard verifying our adherence to the four pillars of social compliance; labour, health and safety, environment, and business ethics. In the coming year we purpose to train our staff on Anti corruption and integrity as well as develop an Internal Anti corruption monitoring program.