Just a Cup of Coffee, Yet It Has Global Impact – What Is Ethical Coffee and How Does It Make the Earth Better?

The Impact of Coffee on Climate

Coffee plants are cultivated in monoculture (only one crop is grown on a given piece of land), requiring chemical protection and significant energy. Coffee plantations prefer warm, tropical climates, which is why they are located near or within rainforests. Large coffee-producing companies use exploitative methods, and once they have completely exhausted a piece of land, they leave it fallow and seek another. They clear the new land by cutting down rainforests and establishing new plantations. In this way, rainforests are continuously shrinking, leading to declining biodiversity and deteriorating air quality.

Meanwhile, the global environmental impact caused by large coffee producers also negatively affects small coffee growers, who continuously work the same land.

Climate warming is a particularly pressing concern in the homeland of arabica coffee, Ethiopia, the world's 5th largest coffee-producing country. Climate change simultaneously causes drought and higher average temperatures, as a result, the area suitable for coffee cultivation is shrinking at a dramatic rate. In Ethiopia, arabica coffee accounts for a quarter of total export revenues, and 16% of the population, 15 million people, depend on coffee cultivation for their livelihood.

Fair Trade Coffee

After petroleum, coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world by volume. Most coffee is grown in Brazil, while most fair trade coffee is produced in Colombia. On most non-fair trade coffee fields, workers must work in inhumane conditions for pennies, laboring 12-14 hours a day. For this to change and for there to be more fair trade coffee fields, we need responsible consumers. But what exactly is fair trade?

The Fairtrade label is a certification mark for products originating from fair trade.

The essence of fair trade is that producers and trading partners agree on a specific price that truly reflects the material and labor costs of producers, taking into account economic, social, and even ecological conditions. Fair price not only ensures the livelihood of producers but also provides an opportunity to improve and make production processes more sustainable.

In addition to fair price, other criteria also apply, which are mandatory if a product is to carry the fair trade label.

The criteria cover areas such as:

• ensuring fair working conditions
• prohibition of child labor
• development of local communities, made possible by the fair trade premium
• promotion of environmental sustainability, such as the controlled prevention of toxic pesticides entering rivers and drinking water, and protection of natural ecosystems.

The label is awarded by fair trade certification agencies, so we as consumers can see when shopping in stores which products come from fair trade sources and which do not. Of course, the label is not only used for coffee but also for other products.

Starbucks, An International Fair Trade Munch Partner

From the beginning, it has been important to Starbucks to support ethical and sustainable business practices in its operations, whether it concerns coffee production or coffee shop operations. The company shows respect toward coffee producers, supports the conscious development and rehabilitation of growing areas, while marketing coffee that is 99 percent certified and ethically produced. Starbucks locations also strive to establish awareness and ethical consumption – in coffee shops, recycled and paper cups are preferred over disposable cups and plastic utensils. From May 2021, unsold but high-quality Starbucks products are also available on Munch.

In addition to ethical coffee procurement, Starbucks has established nine centers around the world to support workers on coffee plantations. These centers provide opportunities for farmers to learn the most advanced coffee cultivation technologies and methods. Thanks to this network spanning continents, 25,000 farmers have already been introduced to the latest industry practices.

To provide material assistance to farmers, Starbucks established the Starbucks Global Farmer Fund, which provides a 50 million dollar framework for the company to finance infrastructure developments for coffee producers who apply for it. The foundation targets farmers who would not meet commercial credit requirements.

What Can You Do As a Responsible Consumer?

Upon waking, when you lift your favorite cup to your hands, filled with your best morning companion, it's hard to imagine that this small black drink can have such an impact on our planet. But it does! Although an espresso can give you energy for an entire day, its production requires enormous amounts of water, human labor, packaging materials, electricity, and so on. That's why it matters how we choose our coffee habits. Don't worry, you don't have to give up coffee, you just need to source it from the right place. Here are our tips so that you and the Earth both benefit:

• when shopping in stores, look for the Fair Trade label, so you can be sure your coffee comes from a sustainable source
• after making coffee at home, use the coffee grounds, for which you can find ideas in this article
• if you go to a coffee shop, choose one that you know sources fair trade coffee and preferably has environmentally friendly packaging
• whether you bring it from home or drink at a coffee shop, use your own mug – the Starbucks reusable cup is a great solution for this, and you can even get a discount at their coffee shops
• if you use capsule coffee, choose one where you can return empty capsules (e.g., Nespresso), or unleash your creativity at home and reuse the empty capsules.

We hope this article has helped you, and after enjoying your little black coffee, not only you but the Earth will be smiling.