In the 5 years since it opened its doors in the Matas e Montanhas region, Brazil’s second largest for production of Arabica coffee, LDC’s coffee warehouse in Matipó has become the industry reference for warehouse automation in Brazil, renowned for its state-of-the-art equipment and processes, thanks to the dedication and hard work of #TeamLDC.
Committed to Sustainability
When the facility opened in 2018, about 43% of coffee was unloaded in bulk, with remaining volumes unloaded with jute and plastic bags. Through the joint effort of our operational and commercial teams to align with best practices and contribute to LDC’s global commitment to reduce its environmental footprint, we now unload approximately 98% of our coffee in bulk, which has significantly reduced the use of plastic.
“We are recognized as one of LDC’s coffee warehouses with the highest level of automation in processing in the world, and we are proud to have inspired our business partners and companies in the region to follow the same path to sustainability,” said Sergio Nespoli, LDC’s Regional Commercial Coordinator for Coffee.
Records and Awards
At LDC, our people have always been our greatest asset – and #TeamLDC at Matipó is no exception, as an example of good Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) practices that have ensured zero lost-time accidents since the facility’s first day of operations – that’s over 1,800 consecutive days!
The team’s leadership in this area is acknowledged with several internal awards and recognitions:
- Regional Sustainability Champion Award in 2018;
- First place in regional Innovation Awards in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and
- Management System Leaders Awards in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
João Marcos Caetano, Occupational Safety Technician at the site, who took part in the warehouse construction and has worked with our 70-strong local team ever since, notes:
I’ve learned a lot since joining LDC. I was part of the construction phase and then the Operations team, and this has added a lot to my professional experience, which I will certainly take with me for life. Working at LDC is rewarding because the company is really committed to safety, and I trust we can make a difference in people’s lives with our work.João Marcos Caetano Occupational Safety Technician
Strengthening Local Partnerships
The success of our Matipó warehouse is inextricably linked to its connection with the local community, built on LDC’s work in the region, which has fostered strong relationships with producers, cooperatives, customers, business partners and other local stakeholder groups – including through donations and partnerships with local educational institutions and small businesses.
In addition to contributing to the development and welfare of local communities connected with our operations through job creation and community support projects, we encourage our business partners to adopt sustainable practices in their own activities, recognizing that we can have a greater positive impact on our value chains by working in partnership with our large network of stakeholders,Jéssica Oliveira Warehouse Manager
#TeamLDC has worked for 5 years to build their position as automation leaders, sustainability and safety champions, and trusted partners to local stakeholders.
We raise our coffee mugs to their success so far, and to many more years ahead!
Learn more about our coffee business in Brazil.
