Coffee sustainability: trend or truth?

By Zeinab Makki

Coffee trees from sustainable farms growing in Sydney, Australia. Credit: Flickr

Coffee and sustainability: two words frequently heard together in our society where environmental friendliness is gradually increasing.

But what is it? Sustainable coffee farms follow ethical agriculture practices to produce high-quality beans and manage an “environmentally-friendly” farm whilst increasing productivity.

According to the Coffee Research Organisation, sustainable farming uses renewable sources, minimises pollution, and cares for the environment and its employees.

The Barista Institute declared coffee sustainability as the top trend of 2019. In a time where climate change is more prevalent than ever, this theme is key.

How realistic is it? Do caffeine addicts really have the time to consider whether or not their go-to takeaway cup was recycled?

Despite efforts of major brands like Nespresso - who developed an AAA sustainable quality program and are in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance – who promote “quality, productivity, and longevity” of their coffee farms, consumers play a large role in ensuring lasting change.

The responsible coffee consumer must understand the certification label on their freshly purchased pack: whether it be the Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade.  The latter sometimes receives criticism for not being so “fair” by failing to address the issues of “radical changes that might allow farmers in the developing world to break out of the poverty cycle” according to the BBC.

The responsible coffee consumer must also be willing to pay the slightly higher price for the brew that is friendlier for their environment and those producing it. This could be a setback for budget-tight consumers.

As with most coffee and environment themes (including the impacts of climate change), consumers play a key role in ensuring change as farmers and retail companies can only do so much.

Sustainability in the coffee industry is growing and awareness is increasing. With the right tools implanted by the farmers, retailers, and consumers we are headed towards a promising future for coffee drinkers and those who make it all happen.

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