First Eco-Friendly Coffee Cargo Sailboat Embarks on Historic Journey to North America

Canadian coffee roaster Café William marked a groundbreaking moment in the industry as its inaugural eco-friendly cargo sailboat set sail from the port of Santa Marta in Colombia on December 18, headed for North America.

The 20-day voyage, powered solely by wind, carried 72,000 kilos of coffee beans, symbolizing a significant stride towards sustainable and clean energy practices in maritime transport.

This eco-conscious decision aligns with Café William’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and champion environmentally friendly shipping throughout its supply chain.

Serge Picard, the owner of Café William, emphasized, “It’s a commitment to sustainable transport but also to setting a precedent for other players in the sector.”

For the Sherbrooke roaster, this venture represents a historic moment, steering away from traditional fossil-fuel cargo ships that dominate coffee transportation.

Picard stated, “It was vital for us to find an alternative method of transporting coffee.”

With this first voyage serving as a proof of concept for the cargo sailboat, Café William envisions a future of zero-emission coffee supply.

According to their projections, the company anticipates a reduction of approximately one tonne of shipping-related CO2 per container, underscoring the environmental benefits of this initiative.

Looking ahead, Café William aspires to scale up its cargo sailboat shipping capacity to cover 100% of the volume imported for the roastery in the long term.

This initiative had its roots in 2021 when Café William announced its investment in the first zero-emission sailing cargo ship, named Ceiba, designed to transport coffee beans from South America to Sherbrooke. Ceiba, a three-masted traditional topsail schooner built in Costa Rica, features an auxiliary electric engine for enhanced reliability and efficiency. The electric engines can utilize a combination of green hydrogen fuel cells and batteries regenerated by variable pitch propellers.

As the Ceiba sails into uncharted waters, Café William’s eco-friendly journey heralds a new era of sustainable practices in the global coffee trade.