Local Enterprise Office, Waterford celebrates this year’s Glas Award winner, Blue Butterfly Coffee

The award, in association with Waterford City and County Council recognises and celebrates the micro businesses in County Waterford who have made significant advances in bringing green principles into their business models. None more so than Blue Butterfly Coffee.

The Green Micro Enterprise of the Year was open to all with employees of 10 or less employees. Blue Butterfly Coffee impressed the judges with, “The manner in which it’s green philosophy permeates throughout all aspects of the business. From sourcing the beans to the production, packaging and delivery.”

Founded in 2020 by Fintan Stanley, Blue Butterfly Coffee is more than just a coffee company. “For us great coffee starts long before the roast”, explains Fintan. “For us, it begins with the land, things like regenerative practices, agroforestry systems, healthy soil, and the right farmers tending it. Approximately 60% of the coffee we currently source and roast comes from regenerative agriculture or agroforestry systems. These are found right around the world, across Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, Sumatra, El Salvador and Rwanda.

​“From farms where coffee grows under native canopies to our Waterford roastery, we believe in restoring the land, nurturing biodiversity, and building fair, lasting partnerships. That’s the Blue Butterfly effect, and it’s in every cup of coffee.

“We have invested in a new IMF 60 kg roaster featuring hot-air recirculation and an integrated afterburner that treats roasting exhaust. IMF states that its heat-recycling technology can save approximately 30–47% in gas consumption, although actual savings depend on operating conditions and need to be verified at our facility.

“Currently our reusable coffee drums are replacing 350 single use cardboard boxes and 2,100 coffee bags each month. Every byproduct of our coffee process finds a new purpose. Our coffee chaff is donated to GIY and Orchardstown Garden Centre each month which is composted to enrich soil. Even the used coffee grounds are collected and repurposed as nutrient-rich organic compost for gardens and local agriculture.”

Waterford City and County Mayor Cllr. Liam Brazil spoke at the event and presented the trophy, in praising the organisers he said, “It just shows how relevant your Local Enterprise Office here in Waterford is, that they chose to create an awards that celebrates businesses who invest in the future.

The LEO is at the cutting edge of business, the self-starters, the small and medium sized enterprises. Those that represent the vast majority of business in the country, and make up the bulk of trade. They are also, in the main, locally owned, so they understand how important business is to their local economy. I’m sure it’s this awareness that drives them to invest in sustainable policies within their business.”

Fintan and his team received a prize of €4,000, made up of cash and LEO supports, and a themed trophy, designed and created by Irish Handmade Glass.

Acting Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office Waterford, Jacqui Gaule was delighted with the quality of entries for the awards, ““We strive to recognise the work that’s going on within Waterford companies in all aspects of business. With the Glas award we hopefully inspire other businesses to add green policies to their list of priorities.

“The LEO wants to show other businesses that investment in this area is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing too, for every business. Every finalist today will tell you that they have reaped the benefits of their investment, and it’s just the start. We want these awards to grow and have more and more entries every year.”

For further information on the Glas and other Local Enterprise Office Awards, follow this link www.localenterprise.ie/Waterford, contact LEO Waterford at 051 849905 or email info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie