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Our mission? Carbon-free transport.

You too can play an active part in developing low-carbon transport by being selective about the coffee you buy. We have chosen this more sustainable means of transport not as a sales argument or communication strategy, but because it’s an essential part of our commitment to bring you sustainable coffees from start to finish. By 2030, we will be transporting almost all our coffees to Europe by sail!

What’s the problem?

Fact: Maritime transport causes a lot of environmental damage.

Did you know ?

A single container ship consumes 200,000 litres of heavy fuel oil a day. Freight rates between China and Europe saw a 13-fold increase in 2021.

What else?

Preparing for new legislation

The cost of one tonne of CO2 (the famous carbon tax) has tripled, rising from €30 in February 2021, to €80 in July 2022, to €100 in March 2023.

This summer, the carbon quota system was extended to include maritime transport.

Preparing for the future?

If this amount were to double again, reaching €200 per tonne, sail cargo would become less expensive than its carbon equivalent. 

Conventional transport vs. sail cargo: Our comparison!

100% sustainable coffees? Almost!

Conventional transport


Distance and journey time
16,000 km with transhipment
30 to 45 days

Effect on quality
No control over the coffee storage environment + Overheating in containers

Effect on oceans
Impact on marine life
Noise pollution
Acidification
Eutrophication of oceans

Product promotion
No claims or special arguments

Cost of transport
€0.08 / 250 g pack of coffee

Transport by sail


  • Distance and journey time
    8,000 km by direct route
    20 days on average
  • Effect on quality
    Custom transport for specialty coffees, with temperature and humidity control
  • CO2 impact
    -90% CO2 (2 g of CO2 per km and per tonne of coffee)
  • Effect on the oceans
    None
  • Cost of transport
    +€1 per kilo
  • Product promotion
    Concrete arguments
    Product claims on packaging
    Sales pitch
    Strong commitment throughout the supply chain

When?

August 2024

940 tonnes arrive from Colombia

November 2024

940 tonnes arrive from Brazil

February 2025

Repeat the process with Colombia!

June 2025

New routes from Ethiopia & Central America

2030

All our coffees shipped by sailboat

Technical sailing cargo ship data

In 2022, Belco signed an exclusive charter contract with TOWT for the international transport of its coffee. Put simply, we rent out the total hold capacity of TOWT’s ships between our coffee’s ports of origin and destination.  These vessels are as technically sophisticated as a competitive sailboat while offering the logistical efficiency of a commercial vessel.

  • Technique

    Electricity generated by hydro generators and solar panels

  • Dimensions

    80 m long

  • Sails

    3 000 m2

  • Load

    1 000 tonnes

  • Crossing time

    Colombia → Le Havre: 18 days
    Brazil → Le Havre: 22 days

Leader in low-carbon transport

Construction of the 1st boat in pictures
Logo Towt

TOWT (TransOceanic Wind Transport) is a French sailing company founded in 2011. 

In 2021, TOWT officially became a company with a mission. 

“TOWT has set itself the mission of reducing carbon emissions from maritime transport, using the power of the wind to create a simpler, more transparent mode of transport less dependent on hydrocarbons.” 

TOWT is the “ shipowner, as owner and operator of the sailing vessel, while Belco is a “charterer”, in other words we hire its carrying capacity. 

Our coffees: Sustainable from A to Z.

Quality

Sustainable, high-quality specialty coffees

Clean transport

A certified, low-carbon mode of transport supported by concrete data

Transparency

Fully transparent pricing

Groundbreaking

A high added-value, forward-looking project

Valuable

Products with added value, throughout the supply chain

Our coffees by sailboat
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