Wake up and smell the coffee!
Facts About Sustainable Coffee


Why choose sustainable coffee?

Have you ever stopped to think that your choice of coffee could have drastic effects on the environment, economic, and social justice systems of this world? Did you know that our daily consumption habits could help raise a family out of poverty, add years of life to a farmer, help educate children and build infrastructure in disadvantaged communities? When you sit back with your favorite cup of coffee, do you ever consider the process that went into bringing it to you? The crop-to-cup process of coffee is a fascinating one, with many implications that you may never have thought of. Take a moment to investigate some of those issues.

Coffee is the second largest U.S. import after oil, and the U.S. consumes one-fifth of all the world's coffee, making it the largest consumer in the world. But few Americans realize that agriculture workers in the coffee industry often toil in what can be described as "sweatshops in the fields." Many small coffee farmers receive prices for their coffee that are less than the costs of production, forcing them into a cycle of poverty and debt, and millions of families in developing countries don't get a fair share of the wealth created by their own skill and effort and the resources of their land. This is largely because of the way international trade is controlled by richer countries. It's a system which is both unjust and a major cause of continuing world poverty.

Fairly-traded coffees put people before profit. It is a partnership between producers, traders and consumers who are working to remove the disadvantages suffered by producers, to increase producers' access to markets and promote the sustainable development process. It works to create means and opportunities for producers, especially disadvantaged, small-scale producers, to improve their living and working conditions. Its mission is to promote social equity, environmental protection and economic security through trade, awareness-raising and campaigning.


Who benefits from it?

The Farmer

  • It increases annual incomes of small farmers.
  • It helps put in place tools for self-sufficiency.
  • It assists small farmers to stay out of high interest debt.
  • It helps build infrastructure in farmers community.

The Consumer

  • It allows consumers to initiate a chain of responses that will positvely impact the lives of poor coffee farmers and their families.
  • It lets consumers be part of a social justice movement through a simple action
  • It lets consumers have a clear conscience about their purchases
  • It lets consumers assist and empower others with their buying power

The Environment

  • Small farmers use organic methods, which are sustainable and better for the environment.
  • Small farmers disperse their plants throughout a region -- a more environmentally-friendly method.
  • Small farmers plant shade-grown coffee, which is key to protecting certain species of birds.
  • The existence of small farmers helps prevent the clear-cutting of larger estates.

Where can I buy fairly-trade coffee?
What are some other online resources and organizations?