The three interrelated categories (or pillars) of sustainability are social, economic, and environmental. For many years, coffee roasters have aggressively adopted these pillars, frequently by obtaining third-party certifications.
Sustainable techniques have seen significant advancements among several roasters. Instead of giving you a list of roasters, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most typical and important characteristics to consider so that you can choose a sustainable roaster like Lords Coffee Australia with confidence.
B Corp Certification
A for-profit business that has received private third-party accreditation for its social and environmental performance is a Certified B Corp. Every three years, certification needs to be updated due to strict standards.
Organic Certification
Agricultural items certified as organic must have 95 percent organic content and not have been produced or processed using synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, biotechnology, artificial components, or radiation.
Carbon Neutral Certification
Also referred to as Net Zero Carbon, this concept signifies the firm or product balances out the carbon emissions they generate by offsetting their emissions through internal procedures or sponsoring renewable energy or energy efficiency projects.
Fair Trade Certification
The term “fair trade certified” refers to the cultivation, harvesting, or manufacturing of the product by farmers and labourers by the social, environmental, and economic pillars of sustainability. Getting this certification frequently entails paying coffee growers more money and ensuring labourers receive humane treatment.
Rainforest Alliance Certification
Using the pillars of sustainability—forest protection, responsible land management, climate change mitigation, and human rights and working conditions—is the main focus of the Rainforest Alliance.
Bird-Friendly Certification
The migrating birds that overwinter in and near coffee farms are guaranteed to survive thanks to the Bird-Friendly accreditation. It surpasses Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and USDA Organic certifications and is among the strictest sustainable certifications.
Shade-Grown
By itself, the term “shade-grown” does not certify anything as sustainable. Instead, it is a crucial characteristic that indicates that no forests were destroyed to cultivate coffee, which is a vital sustainable strategy that also promotes the survival of birds, as was previously said.
Ecological Sourcing
Sourcing plays a crucial role in sustainability. Several main concerns are addressed by sustainable sourcing: understanding the origin of the coffee, the production process, and locating chances to fund initiatives that maintain production, uplift communities, and protect the environment.
Internal Protocols and Systems
When it comes to the internal policies and practices of a sustainable coffee roaster, there are three things to consider:
- Efficiency of Energy: Do they use sustainable energy sources like solar panels? Do they keep an eye on, curtail, and restrict power usage?
- Waste Reduction: Do they use products and packaging that can be recycled or composted? Do they recycle and compost locally at their roasters?
- Charitable Endeavors: Do they support, collaborate with, or donate to environmentally conscious organizations or sustainable farms?
Pursuing sustainable coffee roasters will be easier if you keep these certifications and criteria in mind.
Final Thoughts
You can improve the sustainability of your coffee intake in several incredible ways. Thus, consider how environmentally friendly your coffee choice is the next time you’re heading out for a takeout on a chilly winter day. Share this post to help people become excited about sustainable coffee!
