Sourcing Sustainable Coffee

Like many of the certifications you see on product labels in the grocery store, the coffee industry has their own unique set of certifications, guidelines and programs that regulate various aspects of responsible agriculture when it comes to coffee growing and processing.

While it would be nice if all coffees were grown and processed according to all these standards. However, economic and social conditions often prevent that. Within these bounds of practicality, we work hard to secure coffee for the environmentally conscious consumer.

There’s really no substitute for on-the-ground observation, and we hope to do so eventually. Currently, we look for certifications if they do exist, and learn more about what each of our wholesalers is doing directly. Our main green coffee suppliers, Happy Mug Coffee and Genuine Origin, are wholesale buyers that make an effort to purchase responsibly sourced green beans. We pass on that information to you so that you know what you’re supporting with each bag you purchase.

Coffee for the environmentally conscious

Here’s a quick overview of some of the certifications we typically see.

Organic

Organic agricultural standards prohibit synthetic chemicals and prioritize environmental sustainability. Key aspects include:

  • No Synthetic Chemicals: No artificial pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers are used. Only natural or approved organic substances are allowed, however, organic pesticides and herbicides are still allowed.

  • Non-GMO: Organic coffee is grown from non-genetically modified (non-GMO) plants.

  • Healthy Soil Practices: Farmers use crop rotation, composting, and other methods to maintain soil health and biodiversity.

  • Certified by a Third Party: To be labeled “organic,” coffee must be certified by a recognized body (like USDA Organic in the U.S.) that inspects farms and supply chains regularly. However, this is a costly process, and often unaffordable for small farmers.

  • Environmental Stewardship: Organic farming encourages conservation of natural resources and reduces pollution.

Organic coffee is often Shade Grown, and is sometimes linked to fairer labor practices like Fair Trade or Direct Trade. Some countries (particularly in Indonesia) require coffee to be grown organically, though not always certified Organic.

Shade Grown

Shade Grown as a growing method (not a certification) means farmers grow their crops under a canopy of trees, mimicking the natural forest environment where coffee was originally discovered. It contrasts with sun-grown coffee, which is planted in flat cleared fields with no tree cover to maximize yield and automated harvesting. Key aspects include:

  • Supporting Ecology: Trees provide extensive wildlife habitat, prevent deforestation and erosion, sequester carbon, and decomposing leaf litter builds up the soil.

  • Better Bean Quality: Shade grown coffee cherries ripen more slowly, which often results in richer, more complex flavors.

  • Less Need for Chemicals: Trees provide better natural pest control and soil health, reducing reliance on fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.

Shade Grown coffee is frequently associated with organic practices. Some certifications like Bird-Friendly do require both organic and shade-grown standards.

Fair Trade Certified

This certification means the coffee was produced and sold according to standards set by a recognized Fair Trade organization (like Fairtrade International or Fair Trade USA) that focus on ethical treatment of producers, fair pricing, and community development. Key aspects include:

  • Minimum Price Guarantee: Farmers receive a minimum price for their coffee (regardless of natural market fluctuations) that enables them to sustainably cover their costs.

  • Fair Trade Premium: Buyers may pay a premium for certified Fair Trade coffee, that goes back to cooperatives or associations, and is invested in community projects like schools, healthcare, equipment or climate resilience efforts.

  • Democratic Organization: Farmers must participate in a coop or association with democratic decision-making, giving all members a voice in how premiums are used.

  • Environmental and Labor Standards: Forced or child labor is prohibited. Sustainable farming is encouraged. Harmful agricultural chemicals are restricted. Organic farming is promoted.

  • Traceability and Certification: The supply chain is regularly audited to ensure compliance, and the certification process is closely monitored.

Though Organic certification is not required, it's commonly practiced by Fair Trade farmers.

Rainforest Alliance Certified

Rainforest Alliance is similar in goals to Fair Trade with regard to fair working conditions and traceability and certification. However, it adds environmental and economic and social stability standards, all set by the Rainforest Alliance, a global nonprofit. Key aspects include:

  • Environmental Sustainability: Promotes shade-grown coffee and biodiversity. Requires conservation of forests, water, and soil. Prohibits deforestation for new coffee planting. Encourages reduced pesticide use and responsible waste management.

  • Fair Working Conditions: Forced or child labor is prohibited. Safe, fair, and equitable treatment of workers is required, as is access to protective gear, decent housing, and health services when applicable.

  • Climate Resilience: Farmers are trained in practices that help adapt to and mitigate climate change, such as soil conservation, diversified crops, and natural pest control.

  • Continuous Improvement Model: Rather than a fixed checklist, farms are assessed on a mix of mandatory and improvement criteria. Certification is renewed through regular audits and progress over time.

  • Traceability and Certification Seal: Certified coffee can display the green frog seal (Rainforest Alliance logo), showing the product meets verified sustainability standards.

However, Rainforest Alliance standards have eroded over the years, and their biodiversity requirements are very lax. We do not commonly see specialty coffee with this certification.

Bird-Friendly Certified

Similar to Shade Grown, this certification adds requirements that focus specifically on creating environments that benefit migratory birds and other wildlife. Key aspects include:

  • Shade Grown: See the Shade Grown Certification.

  • Forest Management: The coffee must be grown in a forested area or an agroforestry system, which maintains natural habitats rather than clearing land for monoculture coffee plantations. The certification encourages the diversification of native trees and plants.

  • No Harmful Chemicals: Bird-Friendly coffee is often organic or follows practices that minimize the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides that can harm wildlife, particularly birds.

  • Support for Migratory Birds: The certification specifically helps protect migratory bird species that depend on shaded coffee farms for stopovers during their long journeys between breeding and wintering grounds. It is most commonly found in Central and South American coffees, particularly countries like Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras and Mexico. 

  • Biodiversity Benefits: In addition to benefiting birds, the certification promotes overall biodiversity by fostering ecosystems that support a range of plants, insects, and other wildlife.

Bird-Friendly is a premium certification, and we wish it was seen more in the coffees we purchase.

Farm Gate

In lower case, a farm gate (or farmgate) price is that which a coffee buyer pays to the farmer at the farm level, before beans are processed, transported or sold to intermediaries. It transparently sets a fair price to the farmers themselves.

Some suppliers have an in-house Farm Gate program that accomplishes the same thing. We occasionally purchase green beans from Coffee Shrub, who has such a program, and guarantees that their Farm Gate prices are 50% over Fair Trade pricing, and often 100% more than Fair Trade minimums.

Other large importers have similar programs that go beyond just pricing guarantees, but also do much work behind the scenes, investing in local farm economies and villages, funding schools, medical facilities and community programs.