Sustainable coffee project linking the region and the world evaluated
Kamakura, 7 March 2025: Kamakura Ethical Lab, the fair trade town promotion organisation of Kamakura City, in collaboration with Mitsumoto Coffee Company Kamakura General Factory (Head Office: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Kamakura General Factory: Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture), Kokubu Shutoken Corp. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and the City of Kamakura, has won the Grand Prize at the Social Products Awards 2025 (organised by the Association for the Promotion of Social Products).
Kamakura Roasted Coffee - Fair Trade Kamakura Blend is a fair trade product for the future from Kamakura, which is a joint effort of the community, citizens, companies, and consumers. Fair trade coffee beans purchased at a fair price from producers in developing countries are used, and roasted and packaged at the Kamakura General Factory of Sanbon Coffee Co. It features a flavor inspired by the history and culture of Kamakura, and has been sold at major mass merchandisers nationwide since August 2024.
This product, the result of the first industrial and regional promotion collaboration project undertaken by the Kamakura Ethical Lab, was selected for the prestigious Social Product Award 2025, Grand Prize in the free theme category.
Mr.Yasuyuki Iwabuchi, a member of the Kamakura Ethical Lab and the initiator of this project, commented as follows. I feel that this project was made possible by the combination of each person's thoughts and expectations for the future, and by a great power. As a citizen of Kamakura, I hope that each person's ethical action, which takes into consideration not only nature, history, and culture, but also people, society, the environment, and the community, will bring about a good cycle around the world as a fair trade initiative that is unique to Kamakura, and will make Kamakura a more livable city where people can learn and work together toward a sustainable future and connect to the next generation.
Ms.Rika Sueyoshi, Mr.Tetsuji Inaba, and Ms.Akiko Hirano, co-chairs of Kamakura Ethical Lab, commented, “We are very honored that the coffee voted for by so many Kamakura citizens has won such an award. We are renewing our determination to give back to society and to promote the fair trade town of Kamakura together with Mitsumoto Coffee Co. and Kokubu Shutoken Corp.
Upon receiving the award, Mr. Asao, Minister of the Environment, and Mr. Matsuo, Mayor of Kamakura City, also commented on the award.
■Mr. Keiichiro Asao, Minister of the Environment commented, “I would like to congratulate you on winning the Grand Prize for ‘Kamakura Roasted Coffee - Fair Trade Kamakura Blend’. It is my great pleasure to know that our ethical initiatives, which are linked to the world and to the future, have been highly evaluated from Kamakura, a place nurtured by history and nature. As a pioneering model for the realization of a sustainable society, I believe that it will give hope and courage to many people. I sincerely hope for your continued growth and the expansion of ethical activities from Kamakura to the world and into the future.
■Mr. Takashi Matsuo, Mayor of Kamakura City, commented: “We are very happy to be able to send out products from Kamakura that make the world happy. I hope that this will serve as a catalyst for building a better future by recognizing that the consumption behavior of each of us is a choice that affects people, society, and the environment around the world. We will continue to actively promote and raise awareness of fair trade and ethical consumption in cooperation with citizens and companies, and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.”
We at Kamakura Ethical Lab would like to express our gratitude to all those who have been involved in this project, and we will continue our efforts to increase the number of fair people, things, and companies in Kamakura, using “Kamakura Roasted Coffee - Fair Trade Kamakura Blend” as a symbol. We will continue to work together with everyone to create a better future from the fair trade town Kamakura.
■Outline of Award
Name of Award: Social Products Award 2025 Grand Prize Winner
Subject: “Kamakura Roasted Coffee - Fair Trade Kamakura Blend
Evaluation comments: The product is highly evaluated for its implementation of initiatives to solve specific social issues, such as certification of Fairtrade procurement and donations to a local green space preservation fund. It should also be noted that while being ethical and social products, they are also competitive in terms of price with general products, lowering the hurdle for ethical consumption. In addition, the product has a clear regional character specific to Kamakura, with specifications and design that resonate with the local community. The product is highly evaluated for its ingenuity in encouraging consumers to change their behavior, such as by collaborating with local governments and consumers to decide the taste and design by voting in Kamakura City. The project actively promotes awareness-raising activities that unite industry, academia, government, and the private sector, providing an opportunity to think beyond sales and consider social and environmental issues as one's own personal business. The community-wide efforts involving local governments and accompanied by the declaration of their leaders have the great potential to become a model for other regions by enabling them to raise core issues such as climate change countermeasures and human rights issues for producers.
■What is the Social Products Award?
The Social Products Awards is Japan's first and only award program for social products with the aim of realizing a sustainable society through the promotion of social products. The awards provide information on excellent social products to a wide range of consumers and support companies and organizations that are working to create a sustainable society through social products.
Reference: https://www.apsp.or.jp/socialproductsaward/
■ What are social products?
Social products are products and services that are friendly to people and the earth, such as “eco-friendly,” “organic,” “fair trade,” “with donations,” and “rooted in local communities and traditions,” and that enable purchasers to connect with actions and organizations related to the creation of a sustainable society.
■About Kamakura Ethical Lab
Kamakura Ethical Lab is an organization that promotes ethical consumption and lifestyle, working for the certification and continuation of Fair Trade Town in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. Established on May 13, 2023 (World Fair Trade Day). We promote activities to build a better society and a sustainable future through fair trade.
■Inquiry about this matter
Organization: Kamakura Ethical Lab
Contact person: Iwabuchi
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