Škoda Auto, the Czech car manufacturer, has launched its distinctive ‘Curiosity Fuel’ coffee, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability at its production facilities. This specialty coffee, sourced from family-owned farms in India and Tanzania, is processed in line with Rainforest Alliance principles, ensuring both environmental care and fair wages for farmers.
On April 22, 2024, in Mladá Boleslav, Škoda unveiled that the Curiosity Fuel coffee is not only a product but a part of a broader sustainability strategy. This coffee supports local ecosystems and promotes fair labor practices, mirroring the company’s dedication to reducing its overall environmental footprint. Karsten Schnake, a board member at Škoda, emphasized the company’s responsibility in pioneering sustainable practices, noting that every cup of Curiosity Fuel coffee could inspire further eco-friendly innovations.
The coffee’s name, ‘Curiosity Fuel,’ reflects its role in sparking interest in sustainable methods across the value chain. The coffee beans are grown, roasted, and packaged with an eye towards ecological and social responsibility, bolstering biodiversity and ensuring fair treatment of workers.
Škoda’s approach extends beyond just coffee. The husks from Curiosity Fuel coffee beans, which would typically be discarded, are repurposed to tan leather for the Kodiaq and Octavia models’ Suite Design Selection seats. This initiative is a part of Škoda’s circular economy efforts and is supported robustly by the KOVO trade unions.
Additionally, Škoda is responsible for Volkswagen Group’s operations in the Indian market and commits to community engagement. The company plans to enhance a school near the plantations to improve local educational infrastructure.
The partnership, formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding with Jablum Czech and Neralu Plantation Private Limited, ensures that every step from cultivation to roasting adheres to Rainforest Alliance Certification standards.
Starting this summer, Škoda Auto will switch to using exclusively Curiosity Fuel coffee at its Czech locations, covering an annual consumption of about 25 tonnes. The transition not only supports sustainable agriculture but also aligns with Škoda’s holistic environmental strategy, which encompasses product development, supply chain management, and retail operations.
Škoda’s initiative to close the sustainability loop goes beyond coffee, as it explores other innovative tanning methods, like using wastewater from olive oil processing for the Superb’s L&K variant.
This move by Škoda Auto underscores its vision of sustainability as a transformative, comprehensive process that not only benefits the environment but also supports the well-being of all stakeholders involved.