Our projects around the world

10 years DE Foundation: where do we come from, where do we go?

Douwe Egberts Foundation: 10 years making a difference 

In 2002 DE Master Blenders 1753 (former DE/Sara Lee) established the DE Foundation with one clear goal: to improve the living conditions of small coffee and tea farmers. 

Ten years later, the foundation is still going strong and making a big structural difference for farmers and for sustainability in the world of coffee and tea. 

Ten years of results

During its lifetime, the DE Foundation has built an impressive track record helping those who most need help. More than 60,000 coffee farmers benefitted directly from our projects in 7 different coffee- and tea-producing countries.  

We helped these farmers and their families to have better working and living conditions; to harvest more coffee of better quality and in more safe and environment-friendly ways. 

Ten years of learning

The activities of the DE Foundation provide valuable knowledge and best practices that allow the coffee industry and in particular founding company DE Master Blenders 1753 to shape the sustainability agenda for the future. 

Ten years of cooperation

The DE Foundation has become a well-respected organization and a willing partner for all parties in the coffee and tea industry who share the vision of a sustainable future. Throughout the years, the foundation has cooperated with governmental, non-governmental and industry partners in countries around the world. 

Many of those international partners join this month’s celebration of the 10th anniversary of the DE Foundation by taking part  in an interactive symposium to discuss the future of coffee sustainability. Because we are proud of the journey so far but know there is still a lot of work to be done.