Changing the rules
We want more sustainability, more equity and more quality at affordable prices. Therefore, we change the rules of the game: we trade differently, you buy differently.
WE
only send our fruit when it is ripe. The taste is what counts above all; meaningless standards such as size and colour are of no concern to us.
read more ↓
WE
... let nature decide. It's up to her how big a clementine or how crooked a carrot should be or when a pineapple is sweet enough. An orange may even be green and yet perfectly ripe. The taste is what matters! Not everything is always available; products of nature come in their own time. And by respecting this we avoid food waste as well as intermediate storage in refrigerators and heated greenhouses.
YOU
order in advance and wait for the harvest time. That way you get products that are ripe and full of flavour.
WE
sell large packages that come directly from the country of origin. This is more efficient, reducing not only waste but also food miles.
read more ↓
WE
... rely on direct trade. The products are packaged in the country of origin in a way that makes sense for the product and the producer. You will mostly receive large original packages by mail. This is an ecologically sound approach – shorter transport routes, lower emissions and less packaging.
• 58 % of our products are never repackaged
• 39 % of our deliveries come directly from the producer and are not intermediately stored
YOU
buy large quantities and share the contents of the bulk packs with others.
WE
want to keep getting better at doing business socially and ecologically and we have a holistic view on sustainability.
read more ↓
WE
To achieve positive changes for humans and nature, we adopt a holistic approach.
Because farmers worldwide earn too little, in addition to premiums for organic and fair trade, we want to pay them an extra 10% of the selling price in our online store. We are introducing this model gradually.
We still have a way to go, but with each year we are working to improve. Here are some numbers from 2018:
• 92 % of our products certified organic
• 31 069 hectares total organic cultivation area, of which 6956 hectares were added in 2018
• 272 farmer trainings conducted in organic farming and sustainability with on average 25 participants each
• EUR 240 076 in fair trade premiums paid to farmer groups
• Started direct co-operation with 3059 additional farmers
• 129 new jobs created within gebana in the south
YOU
consume with fairness and sustainability in mind.
WE
take risks and invest where others won't to create jobs through local processing. If profit is made, we share it.
read more ↓
WE
Countries that only export raw materials remain poor, which is why we are investing in processing in risky and financially disadvantaged regions. We help build companies that can sell locally and survive without gebana. It can be difficult, but we accept that because we are convinced that development requires courage and patience. If we earn profit, we share it with all employees worldwide as well as with customers and investors. gebana has:
• established processing plants in Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Togo, Benin and Brazil
• created 708 jobs in subsidiary companies (of which 129 new in 2018)
• collaborates on average for 9.75 years with partners
• distributed EUR 50,400 of profit to 708 employees worldwide (2018)
• compensated losses of EUR 4.1 millions in developing countries
• realised EUR 776,000 direct investments in developing countries (2018)
YOU
can invest in gebana as well. It's risky, but your money will work towards a more sustainable economy.
WE
are making our expertise available on our crowdfunding platform for use by anyone who shares our vision for fairer trade.
read more ↓
WE
To date, 21 crowd projects have been successfully completed on our platform thanks to more than 11,000 supporters.
Do you know producers with a fantastic product, but without the means to export? Bring them to our platform as a crowd project – together we can achieve more!
YOU
support farmers and processors with your order from a crowd project.
