In a significant development for the coffee industry’s sustainability efforts, the Global Coffee Platform (GCP) has acknowledged seven additional sustainability schemes as equivalent to the esteemed Coffee Sustainability Reference Code (Coffee SR Code). This announcement, made in Bonn, Germany, on November 28, 2023, reflects a concerted effort to achieve critical sector alignment necessary for advancing coffee sustainability.

GCP Executive Director, Annette Pensel, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We’re delighted to add seven more names to the list of sustainability schemes GCP recognizes as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code this year. This commitment to a common language and increasing transparency is critical for understanding, advancing, and accelerating coffee sustainability together.”

The newly recognized sustainability schemes include Exportadora de Café Guaxupé’s Guaxupé Planet, Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe’s NKG Bloom, ofi’s AtSourceV and AtSource+, Racafé’s CRECER, and 3E® by RGC Coffee. GCP considers these initiatives meeting the standards set by the Coffee SR Code with 2nd party assurance.

The number of sustainability schemes recognized by GCP as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code has now reached 17, significantly expanding the critical mass to advance and accelerate coffee sustainability.

Sector Alignment for Coffee Sustainability

All GCP-recognized sustainability schemes underwent a thorough assessment for equivalence. It has been a year since GCP released the Equivalence Mechanism 2.0, strengthening the tool with stricter sustainability criteria aligned with the Coffee SR Code and operational criteria.

The Coffee SR Code serves as a sector-wide reference for sustainability in economic, social, and environmental dimensions for green coffee production and primary processing worldwide. The GCP Equivalence Mechanism defines operational criteria ensuring a credible and effective system for implementation, including governance, standard-setting, assurance, data, and claims requirements.

GCP partnered with the International Trade Centre for the assessment, ensuring the integrity of the recognition process against the principles and practices of the Coffee SR Code and the operational criteria of the Equivalence Mechanism 2.0.

All GCP-recognized sustainability schemes are eligible for inclusion in the annual GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases, enhancing transparency and alignment in advancing coffee sustainability globally.

The Equivalence Mechanism, along with the Coffee SR Code and GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases, are interconnected assets developed by GCP to provide a common language for coffee sustainability foundations, promoting the supply and demand of coffee produced following at least baseline sustainability principles.

The 2022 Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases summary report was published in September, with the next reporting round on 2023 coffee volumes set to begin in Q2, 2024.

This marks the third and final round of sustainability schemes announced as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code under the Equivalence Mechanism 2.0 in 2023. Applications are open for additional schemes interested in assessment, with the next round planned to be announced at the end of March 2024. Schemes included in that round, along with those recognized in 2023, will be eligible for reporting in the upcoming GCP Collective Reporting on 2023 Sustainable Coffee Purchases.