Starbucks Announces Coffee Sourcing Guidelines
In a first for the coffee industry, Starbucks has teamed with Conservation International in developing purchasing guidelines requiring that suppliers meet more rigorous sustainability standards. Read More
In a first for the coffee industry, Starbucks has teamed with Conservation International in developing purchasing guidelines requiring that suppliers meet more rigorous sustainability standards.
The Center for Environmental Leadership in Business is a division of Conservation International.
According to Glenn Prickett, executive director of The Center for Environmental Leadership in Business, the new rules mean Starbucks is taking a leadership role in addressing the environmental and social issues surrounding the global coffee industry.
“We hope that the success of this program demonstrates to the rest of the coffee industry that they can benefit by producing coffee in a way that protects global biodiversity and improves the livelihoods of coffee farmers,” Prickett said.
These guidelines are based on four criteria:
- Quality Baselines: All coffee offered by producers and suppliers must meet Starbucks quality standards in order to be considered for purchase. Maintaining the highest quality is an integral component of sustainability at all levels of the coffee supply chain.
- Social Conditions: The standards for coffee production should ensure protection from workplace hazards and conform to local laws and applicable international conventions related to employee wages and benefits, occupational health and safety, and labor and human rights.
- Environmental Concerns: Coffee growing and processing standards will contribute to conservation of soil, water and biological diversity; employ efficient and renewable energy technologies; minimize or eliminate agrochemical inputs; and manage waste materials consistent with the principles of reduction, reuse and recycling.
- Economic Issues: Coffee production and commercialization should benefit rural communities by boosting producer incomes, expanding employment and educational opportunities, and enhancing local infrastructure and public services. Vendors will be expected to provide reliable documentation regarding prices paid to their suppliers.
“Global coffee production can only be sustainable if it is economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally sensitive at all levels of the supply chain,” said Orin Smith, Starbucks president and ceo. “Over the past year we have been working on the sourcing guidelines and we feel they are important steps that will help increase production of high quality coffee and improve the health of the specialty coffee industry.”
A major outcome of the partnership to date has been the availability of Shade Grown Mexico coffee in Starbucks stores and other retail channels. The production of Shade Grown Mexico coffee protects biodiversity while providing economic benefits for local farmers in the last remaining cloud forest in Southern Mexico.
