At Green Caffeine, we are proud of the economic and social impact we have on local communities with this green power leaf. As Guyuasa's popularity grows in Europe, an important question is becoming increasingly important: Are all stakeholders benefiting from this development?
We don't need to explain here what can happen when Europeans discover a commodity that is primarily cultivated and used by small tribes deep in the jungle. History is full of examples that clearly demonstrate that the export of goods doesn't always create winners. Therefore, we ask ourselves this question with every business decision:
Can we make it so that no one loses?
Only if we can answer this question with yes will we implement this decision.
Our philosophy is based on three central pillars: social sustainability, economic sustainability and ecological sustainability.
1. Social sustainability
Our Guayusa is cultivated by over 150 smallholder families from the Kichwa tribe. Cultivation and harvesting are carried out under the responsibility of these families. Once the ripe leaves are harvested, we send trucks to these sometimes very remote families and collect the harvest. We have committed to purchasing every harvest in advance to provide the farmers with economic security and predictability. The price we pay for the leaves is 15% higher than the Fair Trade standard.
2. Economic sustainability
Tea usually passes through many hands. Many hands also mean many economic interests. This sometimes leads to a sharp rise in the price of a product, without benefiting the local producers.
Therefore, we have decided to distribute the Green Caffeine brand and thus our Guayusa directly to customers with the help of exclusive partnerships.
This allows us to retain control over the entire supply and value chain while significantly reducing the number of economic participants. Furthermore, advertising and logistics costs can be bundled and significantly reduced. This price advantage is shared between you and the farmers.
3. Ecological sustainability
Guauysa is unique in many ways, but especially in ecological terms: This energy tea practically forces its farmers to be sustainable. Its green leaves only stay healthy as long as they are adequately shaded. Due to its size (up to 2 meters tall), this shade can only be provided by other, even larger plants in the jungle. This is how the so-called chakras, forest gardens in the form of mixed cultures in the Amazon, are created. Popular shade providers are primarily banana plants, which in turn produce economic goods of their own.
The leaves of the Guayusa shrub can be harvested year-round for over 100 years. The plant burrows deep into the jungle, strengthening it and protecting it from erosion, especially during rainy seasons.
