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Global Coffee Platform Expands Recognition of Sustainability Schemes to Promote Common Sustainability Practices
The Global Coffee Platform (GCP) has announced the recognition of four additional sustainability schemes as equivalent to its Coffee Sustainability Reference Code (Coffee SR Code), marking another milestone in unifying sustainability practices within the coffee sector.
The newly recognized schemes—Agri Evolve’s ACE, Coocacer’s Café Sustentável, Expocacer’s ECO, and Westrock Coffee Company’s RAÍZ Sustainability™—bring the total number of sustainability schemes acknowledged by GCP to 27. This includes 23 under 2nd party assurance and four under 3rd party assurance.
Annette Pensel, GCP Executive Director, emphasized the significance of this development:
“We’re delighted to welcome four more sustainability schemes to GCP’s growing list of companies aligning principles and practices to reach more coffee farmers with guidance on sustainability improvements and to expand market access.”
About the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code
The Coffee SR Code serves as a foundational framework for aligning sustainability principles across the coffee sector. Covering economic, social, and environmental dimensions, it provides a baseline for practices aimed at advancing sustainability.
Schemes that complete GCP’s rigorous Equivalence Mechanism Process are recognized as aligning with the Coffee SR Code’s principles and operational criteria. This process ensures credibility and effectiveness by evaluating governance, standard-setting, assurance, data management, and claims requirements. The International Trade Centre (ITC), a GCP implementation partner and creator of the Standards Map, rigorously assesses the schemes to ensure transparency and integrity.
Expanding Alignment Across the Coffee Sector
The addition of the new schemes demonstrates growing alignment among coffee growers, cooperatives, and private enterprises. The four newly recognized schemes represent a diverse mix of stakeholders:
- Agri Evolve’s ACE (Uganda): A social enterprise supporting coffee farmers.
- Coocacer’s Café Sustentável (Brazil): A sustainability program by a coffee growers’ cooperative.
- Expocacer’s ECO (Brazil): Another initiative by Brazilian coffee growers.
- Westrock Coffee Company’s RAÍZ Sustainability™ (USA): A private-label coffee roaster’s sustainability program.
By adhering to the Coffee SR Code, these schemes aim to improve market access for coffee farmers while driving greater transparency and efficiency in the coffee supply chain.
“Completing the Equivalence Mechanism process is a way companies demonstrate their commitment to coffee sustainability,” Pensel added. “Their alignment with the Coffee SR Code and operational criteria not only supports a common baseline of sustainability principles but also fosters increased transparency and efficiency across the value chain.”
The Growing Impact of GCP Tools
GCP’s tools, including the Equivalence Mechanism, the Coffee SR Code, and GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases, have become essential assets for aligning sustainability efforts in the coffee industry. These tools promote collaboration among stakeholders to achieve sustainable practices as a new standard in the coffee sector.
Roasters and retailers are encouraged to use GCP’s recognition of equivalence as a starting point for due diligence and to contribute to the annual GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases.
Recognized Sustainability Schemes
Below is the list of sustainability schemes acknowledged by GCP as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code:
3rd Party Assurance:
- 4C
- Fairtrade International, Small Producer Organization and Coffee Standard
- Fair Trade USA’s Agriculture Production Standard
- Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard
2nd Party Assurance:
- Agri Evolve’s ACE
- Comexim’s Green Trace
- Coocacer’s Café Sustentável
- Cooxupé’s Gerações
- ECOM’s SMS Verified
- Enveritas’ Enveritas Green
- Expocacer’s ECO
- Exportadora de Café Guaxupé’s Guaxupé Planet
- Louis Dreyfus Company’s Responsible Sourcing Program Advanced
- Montesanto Tavares Group’s GMT Green
- Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program
- Neumann Kaffee Gruppe’s NKG BLOOM, and NKG Verified
- ofi’s AtSourceV, and AtSource+
- Perhusa’s ARTS
- Racafé’s CRECER
- 3E® by RGC Coffee
- Sucafina’s IMPACT
- Touton’s PACT
- Volcafe’s Volcafe Verified, and Volcafe Excellence
- Westrock Coffee Company’s RAÍZ Sustainability™
This recognition highlights the global coffee sector’s commitment to advancing sustainability through collaboration and shared standards. As more companies adopt these frameworks, the industry moves closer to achieving its sustainability goals.
For more information on GCP’s Coffee Sustainability Reference Code and recognized schemes, visit GCP’s official website.