Coffee sustainability momentum grows as three schemes achieve GCP recognition
The Global Coffee Platform recognizes three new sustainability schemes as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code, 2nd party assurance
BONN, GERMANY (14 May 2025). The Global Coffee Platform (GCP) has announced the recognition of three new sustainability schemes as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code (Coffee SR Code). The news comes as the platform is expanding efforts to align the sector around a common language and shared vision of coffee sustainability.
The three schemes – CONNECT by Hamburg Coffee Company HACOFCO mbh, LEGACY Protocol by Minasul, and Sucden Coffee Verified by Sucden – are now recognized by GCP as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code, 2nd party assurance. This brings the total number of GCP-recognized sustainability schemes – either 3rd party or 2nd party assurance – to 30. More recognitions are expected later this year, demonstrating increasing momentum across the sector.
“We’re pleased to welcome these three new schemes into the growing community using the Coffee SR Code as a common language for sustainability,” said Annette Pensel, Executive Director of GCP.
“Their commitment underscores a growing consensus in the sector: that aligning around shared principles and practices is essential for meaningful progress.”
The three sustainability schemes gained recognition having undergone the GCP Equivalence Mechanism, a rigorous process that assesses whether a scheme meets the economic, social, and environmental principles of the Coffee SR Code, as well as its operational criteria – including governance, standard-setting, assurance, data management, and claims integrity.
“We applaud these GCP Members for stepping up to align with the Coffee SR Code. Their dedication helps drive the coffee sector forward and signals a growing collective move to align and integrate at least foundational levels of sustainability into the coffee business at different levels of the value chain,” Pensel added.
Sector alignment for coffee sustainability
“Achieving this recognition is neither symbolic nor small feat – it reflects commitment, rigorous work, and a shared vision for a more sustainable coffee sector,” said Gabriel Chavez, GCP’s new Manager of Sustainable Sourcing. “The Coffee SR Code serves as the baseline, and achieving equivalence demonstrates alignment as well as commitment to continuous improvement.”
Once again, GCP partnered with the International Trade Centre, who created the Standards Map, to independently conduct the Equivalence Mechanism assessment, ensuring impartial and comprehensive evaluations of the schemes.
Recognized schemes are eligible for participation in GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases, one of the platform’s tools that enables roasters and retailers to publicly report their sustainable coffee purchasing volumes using common metrics, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in the sector.
Together, the Coffee SR Code, Equivalence Mechanism, and Collective Reporting form a suite of tools developed by GCP to foster a globally aligned, credible, and practical approach to foster adoption of foundational coffee sustainability principles and practices and continuous improvement, while enabling members to advance their own sustainability goals.
“We commend these schemes for stepping up and investing in this important journey. Their leadership shows what’s possible when we work together, and we invite others to join in shaping a common future for coffee sustainability.” Chavez concluded. “The time to advance farmer prosperity and environmental resilience is now.”
“GCP’s 2nd party assurance recognition of CONNECT will further strengthen our collaboration with producers, enhancing their productivity, quality, and impact.
Through shared goals as defined in the Coffee SR Code, we can all make a greater difference in the coffee community from the ground up.”
Jessenia Arguello Perez
HACOFCO Sustainable Supply Chain Manager
“Being recognised by GCP as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code, 2nd party assurance represents an important milestone for Cooperativa Minasul. It is a testament to our sustainable practices through the LEGACY Protocol and shows we are aligning with the expected baseline sustainability practices across the coffee sector.
This recognition helps reinforce Cooperativa Minasul’s commitment to promoting responsible, ethical, and environmentally committed production, consolidating our commitment to transition to more sustainable coffee farming.”
Frederico Caldeira
ESG & Sustainability Coordinator Coperativa Minasul
“Sucden Coffee’s dedication to sustainable sourcing is reinforced by the GCP’s recognition of Sucden Coffee Verified scheme as Coffee SR Code equivalent, 2nd party assurance. This recognition confirms our long-term investment in responsible practices, transparency, and inclusive value chains that support farming communities and meet evolving market expectations.”
Veronika Semelkova, Sucden Coffee Head of Sustainability
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
HACOFCO’s CONNECT
Minasul’s LEGACY Protocol
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
Sucden’s Sucden Coffee Verified
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?
For their recognition, GCP assessed the different sustainability schemes against the principles and criteria in the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code and the operating practices that schemes should have in place to be considered credible and effective. Depending on their assurance model they are classified as GCP Coffee Sustainability Reference Code equivalent 2nd party or 3rd party assurance. 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. Additionally, the scheme is not managed or owned by the certificate holder, audit firms, or buyer. Other key differences include chain of custody models, transparency, and stakeholder engagement in the system.
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. GCP Members, especially roasters and retailers using sustainability schemes as part of their sourcing strategies should use the GCP recognition of equivalence to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code as a starting point for their own due diligence.
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!
