GCP recognizes three more sustainability schemes aligning on coffee sustainability
The Global Coffee Platform recognizes three new sustainability schemes as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code, 2nd party assurance.
BONN, GERMANY (18 November 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 announcement reflects the momentum among GCP Members to use a shared reference point for credible, consistent approaches to coffee sustainability.
The three schemes – CROP by COFCO, VSS Midori Protocol by MITSUI, and Responsibillyty by illycaffé – are now recognized by GCP as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code, 2nd party assurance.
“The recognition of these schemes reflects the momentum we see amongst our members to align around a jointly developed concept of coffee sustainability. Through the GCP Equivalence Mechanism process, each of these companies has taken a thorough and thoughtful approach to demonstrating how their sustainability schemes align with the foundational principles and practices of sustainable coffee production and continuous improvement towards better outcomes for farmers, workers, and landscapes,” said Annette Pensel, GCP Executive Director
The schemes join 29 others after having completed the rigorous process, in which schemes are assessed on meeting at least the levels of the economic, social, and environmental principles of the Coffee SR Code, as well as important operational criteria laid out in the Equivalence Mechanism 2.0 such as governance, standard-setting, assurance, data management, and claims integrity.
This brings the total number of GCP-recognized sustainability schemes – either 3rd party or 2nd party assurance systems – to 32 .
“We welcome the commitment of these GCP Members to strengthening the consistency and transparency of sustainability efforts across the sector,” added Pensel. “Their participation contributes to a clearer, more comparable landscape for coffee sustainability.”
Sector alignment for coffee sustainability
“Achieving recognition reflects a rigorous and comprehensive process that demands a deep understanding of the Coffee SR Code and operational criteria, and a genuine commitment to strengthen existing practices” said Gabriel Chavez, GCP Manager Sustainable Sourcing.
“Equivalence not only confirms alignment with the baseline but also demonstrates readiness to continuously improve and drive sustainability across the coffee sector.”
Once again, GCP partnered with the International Trade Centre, creator of the Standards Map, to independently conduct the Equivalence Mechanism assessment, ensuring impartial and comprehensive evaluations.
The newly recognized schemes are eligible for participation in the Sustainable Coffee Purchases 2026 Report, to be published in 2027. Through GCP’s transparency initiative, the annual Collective Reporting, roasters and retailers report their sustainable coffee volumes using common metrics that that strengthen comparability, transparency, and accountability. The latest results will be presented in the upcoming Sustainable Coffee Purchases 2024 Report, expected later this year.
Together, the Coffee SR Code, Equivalence Mechanism, and Collective Reporting form a suite of assets developed by GCP to promote a globally aligned, credible and practical approach to foundational coffee sustainability that promotes inclusion and continuous improvement, while supporting members to advance their own sustainability goals.
“Every new recognition adds to a more reliable and aligned sustainability landscape. It’s encouraging to see companies invest in this process and in the robustness of their systems,” said Chavez.
“As GCP reviews and strengthens the Coffee SR Code and the Equivalence Mechanism in 2026, we invite GCP Members to actively contribute and encourage all actors to stay engaged in this collective effort. Given the changing landscape within coffee and beyond, this review is a key opportunity to shape an even stronger and more coherent global reference for sustainable coffee.”
This announcement marks the close of the current recognition cycle under the Equivalence Mechanism 2.0, as GCP and its members look ahead to the next chapter of aligning for collective action through the upcoming review of the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code and the Equivalence Mechanism, ensuring these tools continue to serve a dynamic and forward-looking sector.
“The recognition of the Coffee Responsible Origin Program (CROP), 2nd Party Assurance, reaffirms COFCO International’s commitment to advancing sustainability in coffee production. The program advances producer development, disseminates best agricultural, environmental, and social practices, and strengthens traceability. Aligned with the GCP’s Coffee Sustainability Reference Code, CROP promotes integrity, inclusion, innovation, and sustainability, contributing to continuous improvement across the coffee value chain.”
Thiago Franco
Sustainability Coordinator
COFCO Int.
“Mitsui & Co. Coffee Trading Brazil proudly announces VSS Midori’s recognition by the Global Coffee Platform as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code, 2nd Party Assurance. This milestone underscores our commitment to environmental responsibility and ethical sourcing, fostering a sustainable coffee supply chain that promotes responsible coffee sourcing and shared value for all stakeholders.”
Marcelo Moura
CEO
Mitsui & Co. Coffee Trading Brazil
“Achieving GCP Equivalence, 2nd Party Assurance, underscores illycaffè’s continuous commitment to robust standards of sustainable coffee production and processing. Utilizing a common language for sustainability is essential for our
sector. It allows all stakeholders to better understand what sustainability means and enables the identification of schemes, like Responsibillyty, that credibly meet baseline sustainability practices.”
“
David Brussa
Chief Total Quality & Sustainability Officer at illycaffè
SUSTAINABILITY SCHEMES
RECOGNIZED* BY GCP AS EQUIVALENT TO THE COFFEE SR CODE
*CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST LIST
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
COFCO’s CROP
ECOM’s SMS Verified
Enveritas’ Enveritas Green
Expocacer’s ECO
Exportadora de Café Guaxupé’s
Guaxupé Planet
HACOFCO’s CONNECT
illycaffé’s Responsibillyty
Louis Dreyfus Company’s
Responsible Sourcing Program Advanced
Minasul’s LEGACY Protocol
MITSUI’s VSS Midori Protocol
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
Sucden’s Sucden Coffee Verified
Touton’s PACT
Volcafe’s Volcafe Verified, and
Volcafe Excellence
Westrock Coffee Company’s RAÍZ Sustainability™
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 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 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!
