Sustainability in our chocolate and stores
At Knoops, we prioritise the use of environmentally friendly materials and sustainable products across our company - from the sourcing of our chocolate to the fabric of our stores. We continually review our supply chain to ensure that it remains in line with our ecological and ethical values.
Our chocolate
Our founder, Jens Knoop, carefully selects each of the chocolates in our library which comes from the world's foremost cacao-growing regions. We work with only a handful of chocolate makers, both large and small, who are genuinely committed to improving the sustainability of their cocoa.
For example, Firetree work directly with cocoa farmers and make all of their chocolate in the UK. By cutting out the 'middle man', Firetree can pay a substantial premium above the market rate, giving farmers the scope to commit to high ethical standards, as well as provide well for their families.
Dairy milk
We use Barista Whole Milk in our stores and we’ve carefully chosen our suppliers based on their standards of animal welfare and traceability of their produce.
Our London stores are supplied by Brades, who produce high quality milk whilst maintaining excellent standards of animal welfare and genuine farm-to-fridge traceability. They were also the first dairy farm to reduce their herd's carbon footprint by using Mootral natural feed supplement. In Rye and Brighton, our milk is produced locally at Northiam Dairy in East Sussex. Their herd of happy, healthy cows live outside in their 400 acre farm whenever possible, and they also process milk from other local farmers from Kent and Sussex, all of which is fully traceable.
Plant-based milk
With a lower carbon footprint and requirement for less water and land to produce than dairy, oat milk is our most popular plant-based milk. Minor Figures supply our oat milk, and their commitment to supporting communities and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity has earned them B-Corp status.
All other non-dairy milk - almond, soya + coconut - are provided by Rude Health, a B Corp accredited company whose packaging is made from 88% renewable materials, donate a minimum of 5% of annual profits to charitable causes each year, and run their office on 100% renewable electricity.
Coffee
Our 100% Arabica speciality coffee is a single origin from Brazil that is roasted in our own roastery in London. The coffee is grown on a family-run farm in Capoeirinha, where they take enormous pride in the traceability of their coffee. They offer the most detailed and transparent production, including the names of every farmer involved in the entire growing and picking process.
Cups + recycling
We encourage our customers to use their own reusable cups in store, and offer a 20p discount to those who do.
Our takeaway cups are made from a biopolymer called PLA, created from starchy plants like corn. Production of these has a lower carbon footprint than standard cups, and they are compostable, but must be disposed of correctly in our stores. When we recycle them, they’re broken down in a special anaerobic digester to produce nutrient rich fertiliser.
Our waste packaging and compostable cups are recycled by First Mile in London, and Paper Round in Brighton.
Flakes packaging
Knoops chocolate flakes come in recycled and recyclable cardboard tubes. Inside flakes are packaged in a plastic inner bag for freshness, which although isn't compostable, is recyclable where the correct facilities exist. We are currently testing an alternative wood pulp bag to ensure that the quality of taste and shelf life is not compromised.
Our stores
We prioritise the use of innovative, sustainable materials in the design and build of our Knoops stores: Counters and retail shelving are made from Durat, a solid surface material made from post-industrial plastic waste; Store fronts are made from Richlite, a durable material made from recycled paper composite sheets that’s either post-consumer recycled waste or sustainably harvested FSC® Certified paper, with no added dyes; and menu panelling is built from Eco-Board - an alternative to chipboard - which is created from agricultural waste and has a negative carbon footprint.
Minimising food waste
We use the mobile app Too Good To Go to make sure that our unsold fresh food doesn't go to waste. Bakery goods that would otherwise have to be thrown away at the end of the day are packaged up in one of Too Good To Go's 'Magic Bags' and sold at a discounted price via the app. This initiative is available at all of our Knoops stores, except for Rye.
