Responsibility at Original Coffee

At Original Coffee, we have a strong commitment to contributing to a more sustainable future, both environmentally and socially. We are actively engaged in establishing a high standard for the hospitality industry and reducing our environmental footprint, and have implemented a number of initiatives and measures to achieve this.

Below you can read about our initiatives and efforts to create a greener future with a greater focus on social responsibility, equality and well-being for all.

Our Mission Statement

Original Coffee's purpose is to operate a business involving the production and sale of coffee from cafés and other establishments, the hosting of events, and other activities which, in the board's estimation, are connected therewith.

In our business and operations, we shall create a positive impact on society and the environment.

As part of this, we shall, among other things, work to reduce climate and environmental impact through investment in carbon removal projects, prioritizing local and organic suppliers, continuous optimization of resource consumption in all parts of the business, as well as continuous development and innovation of products and operational processes with a focus on social, environmental, and economic responsibility. You can read our climate action plan for 2026 - 2029 here.

In the conduct of the company's business, consideration shall be given to the company's stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, the local community, environmental conditions, and the company's long-term value creation.

B Corp Certified

We are proud to be a B Corp Certified company.
Certified B Corporations™, or B Corps™, are companies verified as meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

As a B Corp, we are part of a global movement working to benefit people and the planet.

Read more about B Corp here.

Social responsibility

As a member of the world's largest CSR initiative, the UN Global Compact, we aim to contribute to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, to the extent that it is possible for us to contribute.

We do this, among other things, by working with the Global Compact's 10 Principles as the framework for our work with social responsibility, where we strive to integrate social, environmental, climate, and economic responsibility into the core of Original Coffee.

We report our progress and future goals to the UN annually with a Communication on Progress (COP) report. You can read our COP reports and find further information about our work with the Global Compact's 10 Principles here.

Danish Alliance for Responsible Coffee

Over the past 25 years, coffee farmers have become poorer and coffee production is threatened by climate change, deforestation and lack of transparency in the value chain. Ethical Trade Denmark has therefore established the Danish Alliance for Responsible Coffee . This consists of relevant Danish actors who work together towards better opportunities for coffee producers, nature and the climate.

We share the honor of being part of the Danish Alliance for Responsible Coffee with a total of 37 other Danish stakeholders. Our shared vision is that behind every cup of coffee we drink in Denmark, there are committed partnerships to rebuild nature, improve living conditions and increase resilience to climate change.

Equal opportunities for all

Original Coffee strives for equal opportunities for all and endeavors to create open and inclusive coffee shops. Our anti-discrimination policy ensures that gender, skin color, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, age, or nationality do not affect how employees and guests are treated.

We emphasize that everyone feels respected and valued, and we appreciate diversity and different perspectives. Therefore, we are proud of our staff, which in 2026 comprised 16 different nationalities, enriching our work culture and environment.

Original Coffee also publicly commits to respecting human rights and adhering to:

a) The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

b) The International Bill of Human Rights, including the rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

c) The International Labour Organization's (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Our JEDI Statement and Action Plan

At Original Coffee, we operate coffee shops, a bakery, a roastery, and an online shop with a focus on quality, community, and the great coffee experience. Since the beginning, we have worked to create inviting meeting places in Copenhagen where guests, employees, partners, and suppliers feel welcome as part of our community, “Brewed by Friends”.

As a company in the coffee, bakery, and service industry
we employ staff in production, administration, logistics, and front-of-house roles in our coffee shops. We work with suppliers, partners, and local communities across Denmark and throughout the rest of the value chain.

Our decisions regarding recruitment, working conditions, training, procurement, and guest experiences affect people’s well-being and opportunities. Therefore, we want to take responsibility – socially, environmentally, and economically.

In our work with Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI), we are particularly focused on creating equal and inclusive frameworks for employees, guests, and partners. We recognize that people may face barriers related to, for example, gender, age, nationality, language, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background, and we actively wish to create environments where everyone is treated with respect and equality.

For us, Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion means:

  • Working against discrimination, exclusion, and unfair barriers.
  • Working for equal opportunities, development, and well-being.
  • Valuing different perspectives and experiences.
  • Creating a safe environment where everyone can participate and express themselves with respect and dignity.

The management at Original Coffee is responsible for anchoring and following up on this commitment in our culture, workflows, and decisions. We are continuously working to develop and create a fair, inclusive, and responsible company for everyone.

You can see and follow our progress in our JEDI Action Plan.

Comments or feedback regarding our JEDI Action Plan can be sent to mail@originalcoffee.dk

Sustainability in production and consumption

Sustainability is a central part of our operations. We actively work with waste sorting to ensure that cardboard, plastic and other materials are recycled correctly. This reduces the amount of waste going to landfills and incineration and saves resources.

We reduce food waste by preparing limited quantities at a time and serving portions that suit the guest's appetite. This means that the guest can get a little extra, rather than food going to waste.

We prioritize organic ingredients in our products and have had the silver food label since 2019, where 60-90% of our ingredients are organic. Although the gold label is still out of reach, we are satisfied with our efforts and focus on sustainable choices.

Finally, our coffee shops are powered exclusively by energy from Danish wind turbines, which supports our goal of reducing environmental impact and contributing to a greener future.

Recyclable materials

We offer several solutions with recyclable materials.

The New Loop cups are part of a deposit system where guests pay 5 DKK, which is refunded upon return. The cups are reusable and keep the coffee warm, and their environmental impact is offset by their second use.

Our coffee bags are now made from mono-material, 100% plastic, which can be sorted and recycled. We have also introduced 3kg bags for internal use, reducing plastic waste and saving packaging.

Finally, we offer RE-ZIP circular packaging for the webshop, which customers can return via RE-ZIP Drop Points. The system makes packages reusable and supports a circular flow.

What goes up must come down

One of the four core principles at Original Coffee is "responsibility." We take responsibility for our impact on the planet – and act accordingly.

Our main product, coffee, is transported across the ocean, contributing to high CO₂ emissions. Although we prioritize local collaborations and work to reduce resource waste, our total emissions remain high.

Therefore, in 2025, we invested €70,000 in carbon removal projects through Klimate. Klimate is a climate technology startup based in Copenhagen that offers a comprehensive platform for managing carbon removal, helping companies secure high-quality, verified projects to achieve their net-zero goals.

Through Klimate, we invest, among other things, in CommuniTrees' reforestation project in Nicaragua, where trees are planted to restore forest areas and absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere. We also support Klim's soil sequestration project in Germany, where agricultural methods are improved to sequester more CO₂ in the soil while also enhancing soil fertility.

Our goal is to be CO₂ neutral by 2030.

Read more about Klimate here: https://www.klimate.co/

Our Lobbying Policy

At Original Coffee, our mission is to make quality coffee accessible to many and to maintain a standard of quality and service that our guests can always rely on. To preserve our independence and ensure that our activities focus exclusively on the production and sale of coffee and pastries and related experiences, we have adopted a global policy against lobbying.

  • No Direct Lobbying: We do not employ in-house lobbyists, nor do we use external lobbyists to influence local, regional, or national legislation.

  • No Political Contributions: We do not use company funds to support political candidates, parties, or political action committees (PACs).

  • Industry Associations: Original Coffee may be a member of relevant industry and trade organizations for the purpose of fostering professional development, knowledge sharing, networking, and industry insights. We do not participate in political campaigns or lobbying activities through these organizations and do not make separate contributions for such purposes. If an industry organization uses a portion of membership fees for advocacy or political influence, Original Coffee has no influence over these activities and does not actively support them.

The responsibility for ensuring compliance with this policy lies with the company's management, which continuously monitors that the policy is integrated into Original Coffee's daily operations and decision-making processes. The policy is reviewed as part of the company's ongoing work on responsible business conduct and risk management. Any risks of non-compliance are identified and addressed through dialogue, internal controls, and ongoing evaluation of our practices. Employees, partners, and other stakeholders can raise concerns or questions regarding the company's conduct through our current complaint and whistleblower procedure.