Sustainable Coffee

Sustainable coffee is that coffee which incorporates certain practices such as better crop management, efficient water usage, using coffee hulls as fuel instead of cutting down eucalyptus trees, composting coffee bean waste to use as fertilizer, using pheromone boxes to ward away insects in lieu of pesticides, shade-growing, and reforestation. In order to know which coffee brands are sustainable third party certification labels have been emerged over past few decades. Generally, the coffee labels which are certified as Rainforest Alliance, Shade- Grown, organic and fair trade are considered as sustainable. 

Rainforest Alliance coffee certification has been initiated since 1995. This certification ensures the protection of health of soil and water, inclusion of biodiversity, waste management, carbon sequestering along with providing better living and working conditions to the farmers by improving their land quality and helping them to build a more financially secure future.  In order to get this certification, it is mandatory that by 6th year at least 15 percent of the total farming area to be covered by natural vegetation. 

Shade-Grown farms are the one’s which provides the canopy to the migratory birds and other native wildlife. In other words, shade- grown coffee is a coffee which uses traditional coffee producing methods. These coffee farms generally boost bio diversity and prevents soil erosion and thus acts as a carbon sink. Moreover, Rainforest and Shade-Grown are the only bird friendly certifications.

Organic coffee is the next best type of coffee if Rainforest and Shade-Grown certifications are not accessible. These farms generally do not require canopy cover and they generally ban the use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Apart from this these farms also helps in preventing soil erosion.