It is no longer a secret any more that hardly any one expects only the coffee farmers to bear the weight of making sustainability a reality. Everyone from traders to final buyers and consumers realizes a certain responsibility in ensuring the economic, social and environmental development of consumer goods and coffee is certainly no exception.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Sustainability (CS) are not only good business options but also the wiser options. Ensuring a steady supply of coffee - quality coffee which also changes the lives of those who make a living from it - can only be for the benefit of all. That is why when joining the 4C Association, roasters commit to buying increasing amounts of coffee from verified 4C Units over time. Some 4C Members have also recently announced major commitments to sustainability such as Nestlé, Kraft Foods and Tchibo.
At the end of August 2010, Nestlé CEO, Paul Bulcke, announced in Mexico the NESCAFÉ Plan, an ambitious international coffee sustainability plan. The NESCAFÉ plan will extend technical assistance and agronomy services, provide expert advice on sustainable farming practices, and post harvest treatment techniques to over 10,000 coffee farmers per year.
As part of the Plan, Nestlé is also assuring 4C Compliance by 2015 for all coffee purchased through their Farmer Connect/Direct Procurement network. This amounts to approximately 180,000 tons of green coffee per year, benefiting over 170,000 farmers and their families.
“Nestlé is a 4C Founding Member and we believe that 4C is a very necessary stepping stone towards long-term sustainability. To address the mainstream, as 4C Association does in its principles and in its approach, is the right first step in this journey.”
Find out more about the Nescafé Plan here.
Kraft Foods also made a major commitment to sustainability when it announced in May 2011 that it will move towards 100% sustainably sourced beans for all its European brands for 2015. To reach this ambitious target, Kraft will considerably increase its sourcing of 4C Compliant Coffee and also certified coffee from other recognized sustainability standards. This commitment builds on the company’s long-standing collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance.
“The journey towards a sustainable future has many steps and requires continuous re-appraisal to stay on course. The standards that form the 4C Code of Conduct represent a positive next step for the whole coffee industry to adopt sustainable practices. Therefore Kraft Foods will be considerably increasing its purchases of sustainable coffee which meets at least the standards held within the 4C Code of Conduct”
Click here to learn more about Kraft Foods sustainability efforts.
Tchibo is another committed member of the 4C Association which has undertaken major steps to ensure that its coffee is sourced in a sustainable manner. Tchibo works with all major sustainability standards including 4C Association, UTZ Certified, Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade.
“For Tchibo the 4C Association represents a unique opportunity for actors in the coffee industry to jointly improve sustainability in the sector. We hope that other stakeholders are as committed as we are to advance this goal. Tchibo continues its strong commitment towards increasing the demand of 4C Compliant Coffee, a crucial aspect of 4C Association’s success.”
Click here to learn more about Tchibo sustainability plans.
