For me, getting up in the morning means brewing a fresh pot of coffee, every day. Obviously, this is a ritual I share with millions of people around the world, which is why I started to wonder: How sustainable is my love for (and yes, addiction to) coffee? And is there anything I can do, personally, to offset coffee’s potentially negative environmental impacts? Considering these questions, here’s what I came up with:
First of all, statistics show that about 7 million tons of coffee are produced annually world wide. Therefore, it would be absurd to ignore the environmental impact of such a huge industry. According to WWF, “The main negative environmental impacts from coffee production include habitat conversion, soil degradation, pesticide use, and degradation of water quality.” They are very clear in stating that both full-sun and shade-grown coffee plantations can contribute to deforestation and biodiversity loss because the crop tends to take over the natural habitat that would otherwise reside there.
Of course, this is where the moral of the story comes in: small scale coffee production, done in a natural, forested area is the least environmentally degrading way in which to grow the beans. In fact, “In 1993, the Rainforest Alliance and its partner groups in the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) demonstrated that traditional, forested coffee farms are havens for wildlife.” Areas that are not rid of the flora and fauna and are capable of growing coffee are the most environmentally responsible and kind, meaning that the beans that come from these areas are, ultimately, the most sustainable.
So, how can coffee lovers like me make sure that they’re supporting their habit in the most environmentally responsible way? Only buy coffee if you know where it came from and how it was harvested. The best way to do this is to pay attention to the coffee that you buy; ask the clerk if they know how it was grown (forest shade grown or large plantation, etc.) and if it came from a small farm. This way you’ll be supporting both the planet and the farmers who are working in a sustainable way. If you want to find a Rainforest Alliance certified coffee seller, go here and refine your search. Paying attention to the coffee you drink is something you can feel good about, aside from the joy of sipping java from your favorite mug in the morning.
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Hi Sami,
Thanks for the mention! You’re right that shade grown coffee is best for the environment, but it’s also nice that Rainforest Alliance Certified farms consider waste management and water conservation. They also evaluate the social and economic aspects of the farm so farmers and their families. All good, sustainable things, indeed! Some day soon we’re going to have a better marketplace for consumers to find goods from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. In the meantime, they can look for the little green frog seal and use the current marketplace as you suggest!
Best,
Abby
Oops… didn’t finish my thought there. Meant to say that farm workers and their families enjoy decent housing and medical care, and children have access to schools. Thanks!