The comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee is a morning ritual for many. But have you ever stopped to consider the journey those beans took to reach your cup, and if it was a cup of sustainable coffee?
With the coffee market projected to grow at a rate of 4.65% in the coming years, now’s a better time to evaluate. It might be time for us to be more aware of where your “morning joe” is coming from, because sustainable coffee practices matter now more than ever.
We can all easily agree that drinking our coffee is usually our favorite part. The harsh realities involved are anything but easy to consume and can leave a bad taste.
Sustainable coffee addresses environmental, social, and economic concerns within the coffee industry. These problems include things from deforestation and unfair labor practices to things like low wages.
It covers eco-friendly farming techniques and fair prices for farmers. But the truth goes even deeper.
Traditional coffee production can sometimes involve harmful practices. These problems, like clearing forests for coffee plantations, hurt biodiversity.
This approach can contribute to soil erosion and water contamination. All this hurts both our Earth, and our humanity too.
It might be something most do not want to read. But sadly the coffee industry has a history of exploiting workers, including instances of child labor and poor labor conditions.
Seeing certifications on coffee packaging might feel confusing, so it is critical to know. Labels like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and USDA Organic all are indicators. This also gives you power in your purchases.
Fair Trade focuses on fair prices, community development, and environmental stewardship. Rainforest Alliance certification is working to address deforestation and promote biodiversity.
USDA Organic certification indicates that the coffee was grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. So seeing these certifications mean companies are thinking consciously and want to make positive strides.
Sustainable farming methods aim to protect the environment and support local communities. Shade-grown coffee, for example, mimics the natural ecosystem.
By cultivating coffee under the canopy of native trees. This practice protects biodiversity and reducing the use for chemical inputs.
Organic coffee farming, another approach, prioritizes soil health. Techniques like composting, crop rotation, and natural pest control help to keep healthy crops without introducing chemicals.
Agroforestry is yet another growing system. This technique integrates trees and shrubs into the coffee farm to benefit plants and help protect our Earth.
Water is also one of the biggest pieces to this difficult conversation. Conventional coffee farming uses big amounts of water for processing. Water is vital at the beginning of growing beans, to us consuming them in our favorite way.
This might come as a surprise. But it takes 37 gallons of water to make just a single cup of coffee.
The most shocking part to learn though, might be that this high use goes with just the first step. Sustainable coffee producers work hard to put practices in place. Methods like using water-efficient processing methods, are ways companies address consumption.
Economic sustainability is about supporting fair prices and good working conditions for farmers. Worldwide, 125 million people depend on coffee for their livelihoods.
They all have their own individual stories. This also is more people than you think.
Many of these coffee farmers struggle with poverty and market shifts. By paying for sustainably produced coffee and fair prices also ensure economic safety. It will give them a step-up so we see less problems with worker’s wages and rights.
Fair Trade certification ensures fair prices and better working conditions for producers. They also focus on environmental support.
They encourage methods that reduce environmental impacts from production practices. Buying Fair Trade Certified coffee helps you contribute to farmers’ well-being, and empowers them to invest in their families.
Direct trade goes one step above and beyond. With Direct Trade coffee, the focus goes beyond, directly working to maintain more transparency, so we can build trust when it is so deeply needed.
Finding sustainably sourced beans is just the first step. You’ll want to begin to support companies leading change with their approach. Then do your part with habits once you bring coffee home.
Below, is an outlined series of how you too, can contribute to our shared goal for creating sustainable practices.
Here are several simple changes you can make. These tips cover areas of before making your purchase, after brewing to compost coffee grounds:
Coffee plants need a specific, tropical climate, needing cool, tropical regions. Traditionally the “Coffee Belt”, located near the Earth’s equator, gives consistent temperatures. These regions give conditions of 64 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, needed to make a cup of joe possible.
With the planet seeing temperature rises from global warming though, this is drastically impacting conditions. It affects land where producers have normally grown the most abundant crops.
Sustainable options are vital to preserve land and growing abilities for production to happen. It is key for the entire coffee sector.
There’s no way to just make a list, many brands work for sustainability. It’s a shared goal, so here are some coffee businesses trying to reduce environmental impacts and improve life:
| Coffee Brand | Sustainability Focus |
|---|---|
| Tiny Footprint Coffee | Claims to be the first carbon-negative coffee. |
| Pachamama | A specialty coffee roaster in North America that is fully owned by the farmers. |
| Larry’s Coffee | Works to slow roast in an environmentally-friendly roastery, powered by solar energy. |
| Equal Exchange | Imports Fair Trade coffee to make it more accessible in stores for conscious buying. |
| Counter Culture Coffee | Maintains fiscal and measurable standards that support all areas in production and life beyond that for employees. |
| Forecast Coffee | Passionate about stopping climate change, with careful practices through agroforestry. |
| Conscious Coffees | A Certified B Corporation. |
| Café Mam | Sources their beans from Fair Trade locations grown in organic settings. |
| Grounds for Change | Another fully organic coffee roaster. |
| Frinj Coffee | Wants to grow locally to where customers live and coffee traditionally has not thrived. |
| Equator Coffees | Also strives to push sustainability through community support and fair business practices. |
Choosing sustainable coffee isn’t just a passing “feel good” trend. With the future in mind, it starts with a conscious coffee consumer, you.
This allows for more possibilities down the line for generations of farmers and all us coffee lovers. Collective action and fair wages helps the cause.
Sustainable coffee focuses on addressing problems of the coffee world. Coffee can be considered sustainable by practicing environmental protection and by promoting social responsibility by buying only organic, or Fair-Trade and more.
Doing things like minimizing water waste can help as well. Using a french press helps.
One of the most eco-friendly brewing choices out there today is going to be French Press. This cuts unnecessary water consumption down significantly.
Look for coffee certifications first. This shows proof they take it seriously.
Going another step beyond will come with knowing companies more personally, though. When they’re not just working toward an inspection goal, it helps consumers see transparency, and that their mission will continue as concerns for global change continue.
The most ethical purchasing starts with taking steps of purchasing Fair Trade or Direct Trade beans. When farmers receive a living wage, that money makes a positive difference.
Look to see that your coffee is certified organic. Also, that it uses third-party certifications.
Every purchase holds weight when reviewing our consumption habits and sustainability overall. Being conscious about sustainable coffee supports both Earth and empowers all the farmer families across the “Bean Belt”.
So, yes, the cup you sip matters a lot to all. It has an impact to the supply chain.
