As part of our mission to leave the swag industry (and the planet!) better than we found it, we’re always keen to work with local producers who share our ethics and values. One of our longest standing collaborations is with Dear Green, a coffee roaster based in our native Glasgow.
We always recommend Dear Green when our customers are looking for something tasty to add to their swag packs. What better way to welcome a new team member than making sure their morning coffee will be absolutely delicious?! Here at Go Swag, we love the Ballroom Blend – a tribute to Glasgow’s famous Barrowland Ballroom. The blend changes seasonally, currently with notes of toffee, pink grapefruit and plum. We also love the decaf Colombian blend, with notes of chocolate, orange and malt. Our resident decaf coffee drinker testifies that it’s the best decaf coffee she’s tasted! Dear Green’s offerings change seasonally, but currently available are delicious beans from Brazil, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and many more.
As well as roasting some of the best tasting coffee the city has to offer, Dear Green are a Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) accredited trainer, providing Barista Skills and Sensory Skills training. They also offer an amazing programme of community events all year round – from roastery tours to latte art classes.
Glasgow means ‘Dear Green Place’ in Gaelic, so ‘Dear Green’ pays homage to the city’s beautiful range of parks and green spaces. It’s a fitting name for a business with impressive environmental credentials. As well as using energy efficient equipment and biodegradable packaging, Dear Green recycle, reuse, and reduce waste wherever possible. Plus – they’re organic certified and have pledged for Net Zero. As if that wasn’t enough, they also organised the world’s first single-use cup free coffee festival!
We previously shared office space with the Dear Green team and we’ve seen first-hand that their ethics and values shape everything they do. One of the reasons we’re so delighted to offer Dear Green coffee in our swag packs is their rigorous and ethical approach to sourcing coffee. They maintain direct trade links with their suppliers and will always visit the places they source coffee beans from, building relationships with importers, exporters and producers. If you’re looking for some fascinating reading with your post-lunch latte, check out their blog posts about origin trips to Colombia, Burundi and Brazil.
You don’t just need to take our word for it – Dear Green have the credentials to prove their traceable, ethical and sustainable approach. They’re Q Graders for Coffee Quality Institute and B Corp certified. They’re also SALSA accredited, which certifies that their coffee beans are produced in a safe and legal manner. They donate 2% of their revenue to charity, half of which goes to 1% for the Planet. Plus – Dear Green are an ethical employer and, like us, never pay less than the Real Living Wage.
Craving a brew after all this talk of coffee? Check out the Dear Green online shop. You can pick up a bag of beans, sign up for a monthly subscription, or stock up some amazing coffee making kit!
Want to learn more about adding Dear Green coffee to your swag pack? Chat to us.
