Four more coffee sustainability schemes aligning on common sustainability language
Global Coffee Platform recognizes four additional sustainability schemes as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code, 2nd party assurance
BONN, GERMANY (5 December 2024). Four sustainability schemes have successfully completed the recognition process and have been added to the list of schemes acknowledged by the Global Coffee Platform (GCP) as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code (Coffee SR Code). This recognition confirms the growing adoption of a common sustainability language, a critical step for advancing coffee sustainability.
“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,” said Annette Pensel, GCP Executive Director.
GCP announced today the recognition of Agri Evolve’s ACE, Coocacer’s Café Sustentável, Expocacer’s ECO and Westrock Coffee Company’s RAÍZ Sustainability™ as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code, 2nd party assurance.
A language for coffee sustainability
The Coffee SR Code was developed as a reference for the coffee sector to align on foundational sustainability practices and principles, covering economic, social and environmental dimensions. Sustainability schemes that successfully complete the GCP Equivalence Mechanism Process – including the four announced today – are recognized to have adopted practices and principles that are at least equivalent to the Coffee SR Code.
GCP’s Equivalence Mechanism also entails assessment against a set of operational criteria to ensure a credible and effective system for implementation. These criteria encompass governance, standard-setting, assurance, data management, and claims requirements. To ensure integrity of the process, GCP partners with the International Trade Centre (ITC), which, as GCP implementation partner and creator of the Standards Map, rigorously assessed the schemes.
“Completing the Equivalence Mechanism process is a way companies demonstrate their commitment to coffee sustainability. We applaud the efforts of these sustainability schemes, which are owned by a diverse group of GCP Members from different segments of the value chain: two Brazilian coffee growers’ cooperatives, a Ugandan social enterprise, and an US-based private label coffee roaster. Their alignment with the Coffee SR Code and the operational criteria not only supports the expansion of a common baseline of sustainability principles and practices but is also expected to further increase transparency and efficiencies over time.”
The number of sustainability schemes recognized by GCP now totals 27, with four schemes categorized as 3rd party assurance and 23 schemes categorized as 2nd party assurance. Roasters and retailers can use GCP’s recognition of equivalence to the Coffee SR Code – whether under 3rd or 2nd party assurance – as a starting point for their own due diligence.
“The adoption of GCP Tools by more companies from around the world and from different parts of the value chain is encouraging and represents the imperative shift towards sustainable practices being the necessary norm.”
The GCP Tools comprise the GCP Equivalence Mechanism, the Coffee SR Code, and GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases. These interconnected assets were developed by GCP to provide a common language for foundational coffee sustainability practices and promote the supply and demand of coffee produced following at least baseline sustainability principles.
“Recognition by the Global Coffee Platform (GCP) is both exciting and significant because it acknowledges Agri Evolve’s ACE scheme—Agriculture, Community, and Environment—which reflects the core values that guide our operations and aligns with GCP’s mission.
Being recognized by GCP as Coffee SR Code equivalent, 2nd party assurance is important as it fosters collaboration with like-minded businesses committed to setting high standards, driving positive change and ensuring a resilient future for farmers and the environment.”
Beth Rowland
Director of Impact Strategies, Agri Evolve
“Café Sustentável gaining recognition from the Global Coffee Platform as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code, 2nd party assurance is a milestone for Coocacer, enhancing its credibility and aligning it with global sustainability standards. It fosters sustainability with quality, access to differentiated markets, strategic partnerships, and traceable practices, strengthening consumer trust.
It drives innovation and reinforces relationships with stakeholders, positioning Coocacer as a leader in a sustainable and competitive coffee sector. This recognition unites tradition and innovation, highlighting our commitment to future demands and globally responsible practices.”
Eliane Cristina Barbosa Cardoso
Executive Director, COOCACER
“Recognition for Expocacer’s ECO as Coffee SR Code equivalent, 2nd party assurance is of great importance to Expocacer, as it reaffirms the cooperative’s commitment to real sustainability, radical transparency and excellence in the coffee sector.
This strengthens our ability to act collectively, promoting continuous improvement and gender equity by aligning with a global network, supporting the development of policies that benefit coffee growers, especially our members.
Collaboration with GCP allows Expocacer to share learning with other members, multiplying efforts and results to build a more sustainable future for the entire coffee value chain.”
Simão Pedro de Lima
CEO, Expocacer
“Westrock Coffee Company and Raíz Sustainability™ have been working toward a sustainable future for our coffee supply chains since our inception.
GCP’s recognition of Raíz as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code, 2nd party assurance puts a united effort of coffee sustainability behind our vision that is more powerful than ours alone can be.
We are excited to join a collective of programs designed around the same vision with unique strategies to meet farmers and partners where they are in their sustainability journey.”
Brooke Cantrell
Westrock Coffee Company
SUSTAINABILITY SCHEMES
CURRENTLY RECOGNIZED BY GCP AS EQUIVALENT TO THE COFFEE SR CODE
The sustainability schemes listed below are eligible for roasters and retailers to be included in annual GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases,
another way companies are aligning and increasing transparency to advance coffee sustainability globally.
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™
What does it mean to be Equivalent 2nd or 3rd party?
2nd Party assurance is often referred to as verification and 3rd party assurance is often referred to as certification. The main difference between these two levels of assurance is that 3rd Party assurance includes the independent oversight of the competency of the entity performing the assessments/audits to ensure effectiveness and impartiality., this includes but goes beyond third-party audits at farm level.
2nd Party assurance is often referred to as verification and 3rd party assurance is often referred to as certification. The main differences between these two levels of assurance are that 3rd Party assurance:
i) includes the independent oversight of the competency of the entity performing the assessments/audits to ensure effectiveness and impartiality, this includes but goes beyond third-party audits at farm level
ii) the scheme is not managed or owned by the certificate holder, audit firms, or buyer.
What is the GCP Equivalence Mechanism?
The GCP Equivalence Mechanism is a framework developed by GCP to assess whether a scheme can be considered equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code, a sector-wide reference on the foundations of sustainability in economic, social and environmental dimensions for green coffee production and primary processing worldwide. GCP’s Equivalence Process evaluates whether a sustainability scheme meets both the Code and a set of operational criteria (including governance, standard-setting, assurance, data and claims requirements). This helps to ensure that recognized sustainability schemes have a credible and effective system for implementation.
What is the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code (Coffee SR Code)?
The Coffee SR Code provides sustainability stakeholders with a simplified and fit-for-purpose framework to foster better understanding of principles that support baseline sustainable coffee production. In addition, it addresses ongoing challenges in the coffee sustainability landscape as well as key emerging concerns such as climate change, or diversity, equity and inclusion. The Code provides the sector with a common language to collectively advance farmers’ prosperity, social well-being, and the conservation of nature. It is available in Bahasa, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
What is GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases?
Through GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases, roasters and retailers commit to collectively and transparently report their sustainable coffee purchases in the annual GCP Snapshot. These leading coffee companies apply aligned reporting metrics that illustrate leadership, achievements and progress to continually increase their purchases of sustainable coffees from diverse origins worldwide.
Interested in reporting? Contact GCP to start now!
