As eco-friendly trends like oat milk and reusable straws have swept the mainstream, the conversation around coffee’s sustainability and social impact has become increasingly popular.
Even if you haven’t chimed in yet, you’ve probably noticed that the bags-o-beans at your favorite brewhouse geo-tag countries throughout Africa and South America. So what exactly does this mean for you as a consumer?
Let’s start with the environmental impacts.
1. Mono-cropping and deforestation.
Coffee trees are traditionally grown under a dense canopy of trees and in companionship with a rich variety of other plants, animals, and insects.
However, traditional growing practices could not meet the surge in demand for coffee within the last few decades. This led to widespread deforestation as millions of acres of old growth forests are clear cut to make space for more coffee trees.
Most coffee is now produced using the sun growing method. But because the plant is not adapted to a mono-crop environment with so much exposure to the elements, large amounts of water, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides are required to produce profitable yields.
2. Greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy is required to roast the fruit into a dark aromatic bean. Lots of energy is also required to transport the beans across oceans and continents from their tropical homelands to the offices of cubicle workers in the West.
Coffee grounds, along with other kitchen scraps, are also producing a significant amount of methane while sitting in our landfills. This is because the excessive amounts of plastic, slow rate of decomposition, and large piles prevent organic compounds from being properly re-integrated into soil.
3. Waste.
As you’ve probably noticed, coffee is usually bagged in plastic.
Not to mention the single serving pods, cups, straws, lids, and lid stoppers used by coffee shops everywhere.
Human rights and social equity are at play, too.
1. The coffee market is volatile.
This means that there is no guarantee that farmers can sell their product at a price that will cover what it costs to make it (without a fair trade agreement or union).
This puts a lot of coffee farmers in extreme poverty, despite the fact that coffee brewing giants in developed countries are making such high profits.
2. People are forced to work to pay off their debts.
Because farmers are not fairly compensated for their work, they are often forced to work until they pay off their debts.
This leaves many vulnerable to instances of modern day slavery.
3. Child labor becomes a last resort.
As in all cases of severe poverty, child labor is commonplace on many coffee farms. This prevents them from achieving an education and further promotes the cycle of poverty.
Certifying bodies that help enforce higher standards:
1) Fairtrade.
Fairtrade certifications require that a minimum price is paid to farmers regardless of fluctuations in the market. Premiums are also paid on top of this to support social development projects within the community.
2) Rainforest Alliance (formerly UTZ).
The Rainforest Alliance is the most popular certification standard in the coffee industry, but it focuses mostly on the environmental status of things. It does not require standard wages for growers, but it does combat deforestation. However, many concerns have come forward about the regulation of this certification as products that are mixed with non-certified beans are allowed to showcase the certification on the packaging.
3) Certified organic.
Other certifying bodies that require sustainable and organic agriculture practices may vary depending on the qualifying standards in your country.