Sustainable coffee certifications - A comparision on matrix

1. Sustainable Coffee Certifications
A Comparison Matrix
Created by the SCAA Sustainability Committee (2009)
Certification / Organic Fair Trade Rainforest Smithsonian 4C
Utz Certified
Verification Certified Alliance Bird Friendly® Common Code
Create a verified Support a better life for Integrate biodiversity Conduct research and UTZ CERTIFIED’s Achieve global
sustainable agriculture farming families in the conservation, community education around issues mission is to achieve leadership as the
system that produces developing world through development, workers’ of neo-tropical migratory sustainable agricultural baseline initiative that
food in harmony with fair prices, direct trade, rights and productive bird populations, supply chains, where: enhances economic,
nature, supports community development agricultural practices to promoting certified shade Producers are social and environmental
biodiversity and and environmental ensure comprehensive coffee as a viable professionals production, processing
enhances soil health. stewardship. sustainable farm supplemental habitat for implementing good and trading conditions to
management. birds and other practices which enable all who make a living in
organisms. better businesses, the coffee sector.
livelihoods and
Mission environments; The Food
industry takes
responsibility by
demanding and
rewarding sustainably
grown products;
Consumers buy products
which meet their
standard for social and
environmental
responsibility.
All markets All markets Global, with special All markets Mainstream and Mainstream market
emphasis on N. America, Specialty (ambition: vast majority
Market Focus
Europe, Japan, and of coffee market)
Australia
Trace back to 19th century Began as Max Havelaar Begun in 1992 by Founded in 1997 with Begun in 1997 as Begun in 2003 as public-
practices formulated in in the Netherlands in the Rainforest Alliance and a criteria based on initiative from industry private partnership
England, India, and the US. 1970s. Now the coalition of Latin scientific fieldwork. and producers in project by the coffee
First certification 1967. German-based Fairtrade American NGOs, the Operated out of the Guatemala; Utz Kapeh industry and the German
History and Labelling Organizations Sustainable Agriculture SMBC office initially, it became an independent development cooperation
Development Developed into
internationally recognized International (FLO) Network (SAN). First currently involves 14 NGO in 2000. First to initiate a multi-
system with production collaborates with more coffee farm certification organic certification certified farms in 2001. In stakeholder dialogue for
throughout the world. * The than twenty national in 1996. The Rainforest agencies as the eventual 2008, Utz Kapeh defining a mainstream
organic coffee sector branches throughout the Alliance CertifiedTM managers of the changed its name to Utz code of conduct for
world, including program requires that Certified – Good Inside sustainability: The 4C
Page 1
Last updated: 4/14/2009
By: Adam Kline

2. Sustainable Coffee Certifications
A Comparison Matrix
Created by the SCAA Sustainability Committee (2009)
Certification / Organic Fair Trade Rainforest Smithsonian 4C
Utz Certified
Verification Certified Alliance Bird Friendly® Common Code
represented nearly 3 TransFair USA. farms meet program. to encompass more Association was founded
percent of the total U.S. TransFair USA has been comprehensive diverse agricultural as an international
green coffee imports in administering the Fair standards covering all commodities including membership association
2007* Trade Certified label aspects of production, cocoa, tea, soy, and in December 2006.
since 1998. the protection of the palm oil. Operational in market
environment, and the since coffee year 07/08
rights and welfare of farm
families and their local
communities.
Certifiers and farmer The first Fair Trade 1980s farm-based A number of scientific Field-based adaptation of Multistakeholder
groups began organic codes grew out of research by SAN studies in southern EuropGap standard. Now adaptation of existing
certification process Solidaridad movement in scientists and farmers, Mexico, Guatemala and officially GlobalGap codes which resulted in a
around 1967.* The Netherlands. FLO, field-testing, and Peru during the 1990s. equivalent plus. ILO baseline Code of
the Rainforest Alliance involvement of all Recent studies in Labor standards. Conduct, Rules of
and SAN, Social relevant stakeholders. Ecuador and Mexico Participation for Trade
Code Founders Accountability support the criteria as and Industry members, a
International and IFOAM being highly protective of Verification System,
worked together to biodiversity and providing Support Services and a
improve social standards refuge for biodiversity. participatory democratic
and auditing practices governance structure for
decision making.
Organic Farming and Economic and Sustainable farm Certification aimed at the Sustainability: Economic Exclude worst practices
processing practices. environmental management in most production area of the performance through and continuously
sustainability for farmers holistic sense – social, coffee agroecosystem. productivity and farm increase the
and their communities. environmental, economic professionalism; sustainability of coffee
Minimum price and social and, ethical (Future development of environmental standards production and
premium to cover costs improvements are the program may address to preserve flora fauna processing in the
Scope of the of production and cornerstones of the shade, buffer zones; economic, social and
Program the landscape mosaic as
community-elected program. well.) Worker Health and environmental
development programs. Safety. dimension.
Organic premium for
organic coffees. The
model empowers small-
farmers organized into
democratically-run
Page 2
Last updated: 4/14/2009
By: Adam Kline

3. Sustainable Coffee Certifications
A Comparison Matrix
Created by the SCAA Sustainability Committee (2009)
Certification / Organic Fair Trade Rainforest Smithsonian 4C
Utz Certified
Verification Certified Alliance Bird Friendly® Common Code
cooperatives to compete
on a global scale.
Environmental, farm Social, economic, The Rainforest Alliance Biophysical criteria of the Socially, environmentally, Economic, social and
production and environmental, CertifiedTM program is shade component, and economically environmental dimension
processing standards. democratic organization based on the provided that the farm is conscious growing
of cooperatives. fundamental principles of certified organic. standards.
sustainable agriculture
including: best
Code Elements for
management practices;
Coffee Production
conservation of natural
resources, ecosystems
and wildlife; workers
rights and benefits; and
benefits to local
communities.
Federal standard with Baseline and progress More than 200 criteria Organic certification as a Baseline criteria with 10 Unacceptable
practices for producers criteria. Continuous (checkpoints); Field- condition for BF field-tested indicators Practices and 30
and handlers applies to all improvement required tested indicators. Applies certification. Certification and independent, third- Baseline criteria with 90
organic product sold in US. through Progress to farms and coops of all applicable to estate party auditing. Applies to field-tested indicators;
Similar but unique Requirements. Applies to sizes. Continuous farms and cooperatives. farms and coops of all Participation possible
standards are applied democratically organized improvement required. Inspection linked to sizes. All countries with “average yellow”,
internationally. cooperatives formed by organic inspection, but possible. Continuous continuous improvement
small-scale farmers. only every three years. improvement required. towards “green” required.
Scope of the Code Applies to farms and to
production structures of
all sizes. Minimum
capacity of “4C Unit” = 1
container of green coffee.
Every country. “Stepping
stone function” to provide
easier access to
certification/marketing
schemes for producers.
Page 3
Last updated: 4/14/2009
By: Adam Kline

4. Sustainable Coffee Certifications
A Comparison Matrix
Created by the SCAA Sustainability Committee (2009)
Certification / Organic Fair Trade Rainforest Smithsonian 4C
Utz Certified
Verification Certified Alliance Bird Friendly® Common Code
Part of many certifiers’ Provided by TransFair Provided by local NGO Continual provision of Provided by the program Support to 4C Units,
role. Organic research USA for specific projects partners (Sustainable training workshops to at very low cost to members and other
federally and privately through its Global Agriculture Network), organic inspectors, NGO producers in alliance with interested stakeholders
funded by non-profits Producer Services extensionists trained by staff, cooperative other initiatives like the through training-of-trainer
and NGOs. department, and by FLO the program, and by technicians, and Coffee Support Network workshops, educational
(Fair Trade Labelling collaborating institutions. government (CSN). Technical sessions and access to
SCAN perhaps the most Organizations (TA and auditing are kept representatives. assistance providers are tools & manuals; project
Technical
well-known Technical International) worldwide separate.) trained by Utz Certified facilitation; cooperation
Assistance and
Assistance and Capacity through its Producer and are available world- with other national and
Capacity Building
provider network – for all Business Unit. FLO wide. international
systems, not just Liaison officers located in organizations and
organic. most of the countries to between members of the
support producer 4C Association. Regional
organizations. (Technical Offices in mayor coffee
assistance and audit are regions.
kept separately.)
Annual inspections for Annual inspections by At least annual audits by Every three years, linked Independent auditors Independent auditors
certified entities. USDA independent and teams of biologists, to organic inspection. accredited to ISO 65 accredited to ISO 65
accreditation required for annually trained Fair agronomists, sociologists Inspection/certification standard. 10 % standards and trained by
certifiers of organic Trade inspectors. and other specialists arranged/provided by a shadow/surprise audits. 4C.
Inspection product sold in US. trained, authorized and USDA-accredited organic Audits done annually.
Frequency and monitored by the certification agency. Free tri-annual
Accreditation Rainforest Alliance verifications for “4C
Units”; free addendum
verifications possible.
Annual Self Assessment.
Business to consumer. Strong promotional Business to business Business to consumer; Business to business Business to business.
Backed by Federal efforts to consumers and and consumer marketing, business to business. and on-product labeling No product claim, seal or
Governments. Consumer businesses through communications, and Popular, trade, and on-product labeling.
Communication
groups, suppliers, and awareness campaigns, media outreach academic articles. Membership statement
and Promotion
some certifiers media and on-product undertaken by RA staff. on pack possible.
communicate benefits to labeling. Business to business,
consumers. on-product labeling and
Page 4
Last updated: 4/14/2009
By: Adam Kline

5. Sustainable Coffee Certifications
A Comparison Matrix
Created by the SCAA Sustainability Committee (2009)
Certification / Organic Fair Trade Rainforest Smithsonian 4C
Utz Certified
Verification Certified Alliance Bird Friendly® Common Code
off-product promotion
backed by the Rainforest
Alliance.
Yes, required by USDA Yes, traceable from Yes, traceable from Yes, traceable from Yes, traceable from Identity preservation from
National Organic roaster to producer. roaster to producer; roaster to producer. roaster to producer roaster to container level
Program. Organic transparency ensured via following supply chain (“4C Unit”).
Traceability/ products traceable from mandatory transaction roles. Identity preserved
Chain of Custody retailer to producer. certificates. and mass balance Traceable from 4C Unit
functionality. Audited to producer.
chain-of-custody for logo
users.
Yes, except handlers Yes, in fact all major Yes, engages all actors Yes. Farms are certified; Yes, rules for Yes, membership
who do not further actors must be registered in supply chain, from actors further down participation and chain of association with rules of
process and retailers. with the program. producer to retailer. commodity chain are custody participation
Rules/regulations for registered and bound by
Addresses All participation for actors written contracts.
Actors in the along the chain include
Chain mandatory transaction
certificates, license
agreements, and seal
approvals by Seal
Approval Committee.
Yes. Premiums versus Yes, this is the heart of Yes. Differential is Growers have used BF Yes. Differential set by No influence on
non organic certified the program. All negotiated between seal to obtain 5-10 cents the markets. Feedback mainstream market price
coffees are paid to purchases must be at or buyer and seller. more per pound, over on market information of mechanisms: Free
farmers. above the Fairtrade and above what they get differentials and demand negotiation between 4C
Minimum Price as set for organic, with as much per quality provided to members. Price should
Price Differential by FLO (price varies by as an 18% “plus” in one members. reflect coffee quality and
to Farmers coffee type and origin). If long-term arrangement. sustainable production
the market price is Importers/roasters report practices.
higher than the Fairtrade seal tends to increase
Minimum Price, buyers the speed of circulation
shall pay the market of commodity.
price. Additionally,
Page 5
Last updated: 4/14/2009
By: Adam Kline

6. Sustainable Coffee Certifications
A Comparison Matrix
Created by the SCAA Sustainability Committee (2009)
Certification / Organic Fair Trade Rainforest Smithsonian 4C
Utz Certified
Verification Certified Alliance Bird Friendly® Common Code
buyers must pay a social
premium of USD$0.10¢
per pound and, when
applicable, a minimum
Organic Differential of
USD$0.20¢ per pound.
Vary by certifier. Cost of auditing, re- Cost of auditing plus an Per diem cost of added Zero from UTZ, auditing Yearly membership fees
Inspection costs drive up inspection fees annual fee based on days at time of fees only for all actors along the
costs but are being farm size. Group inspection, plus a chain according to size
reduced and increased certification options minimal symbolic charge and position in chain:
Fees to Producers
coverage provided by improve access for for the certificate (as producer’s fee is
regional in-country smallholders. Auditing growers are already smallest. Free verification
certifiers. fees often paid for by paying for the organic and trainings
buyers. inspection).
Certification costs vary Importers are not Currently, no fees Importers pay $100 per USD$0.012 per pound to Yearly membership fees
by certifier. Fees ranging charged a licensing fee, charged to buyers of yr. to participate/use BF “first buyer”, passed on for all actors along the
from $700 to $3000/year. but they must pay at Rainforest Alliance logo/term. Roasters pay through supply chain to chain according to size
least the Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffee. Many USD$0.25¢ per pound final buyer and position in chain:
Minimum and provide up buyers support the on coffee roasted and roaster’s fees are the
to 60% of pre-harvest participating farms (see sold as “Bird Friendly®”. highest.
financing when above). (This royalty fee under
Fees to Buyers requested by re-evaluation as of
cooperatives. Licensed 2008/2009.)
roasters pay TransFair
USA USD$0.10¢ per
pound to cover the cost
of audits, consumer
awareness campaigns
and FLO affiliation.
Average price Minimum price of USD The Rainforest Alliance USD $0.05-0.10¢ per 2008: USD$0.07¢ per No; individual negotiation
Price Premium differentials of USD $1.25* per pound plus a CertifiedTM program does pound pound possible between 4C
Associated with $0.255¢ (+/-) per pound $0.10¢ per pound social not set prices, but honors average for Arabica: $56 members
Code are paid to producers. premium. An extra the farmers’ right to per metric ton for
USD$0.20¢ premium if manage their own Robusta, based on
Page 6
Last updated: 4/14/2009
By: Adam Kline

7. Sustainable Coffee Certifications
A Comparison Matrix
Created by the SCAA Sustainability Committee (2009)
Certification / Organic Fair Trade Rainforest Smithsonian 4C
Utz Certified
Verification Certified Alliance Bird Friendly® Common Code
the coffee is also certified business affairs and quality and market
organic. *Fair Trade gives them the tools drivers
Minimum for washed required to succeed in
Arabica. Prices vary by the global marketplace.
coffee type. Farmers earn more
through gains in
efficiency, improved
quality and controlling
farm costs.
81 million pounds of 450 million pounds Over 94 million lbs 9 million pounds 700 million pounds 4.57 million bags verified
organic coffee were certified in 2005 and worldwide certified worldwide. 170 in coffee year 2007/2008
Pounds Certified imported into the United over 197 million lbs. million purchased as Utz (548 million pounds)
in 2007/2008 States and Canada in certified by 2007. Certified
2007
US, Canada, EU, US, Canada, EU, Japan, From Singapore to US, Canada, Japan, The US, UK, NL, Norway, Countries of operation of
Russia, Japan Australia, New Zealand Switzerland, Rainforest Netherlands Sweden, Belgium, Spain, 4C Industry members
Countries of Alliance CertifiedTM France, Japan
Consumption coffee is consumed in 44
countries on 6 different
continents.
More than 40 nations Bolivia, Brazil, Rainforest Alliance Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, Cameroon,
supplying the global Cameroon, Colombia, CertifiedTM coffee is Rica, Ecuador, El Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire,
market – more than any Congo, Costa Rica, produced in 17 countries Salvador, Ethiopia, Colombia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador,
other certification. Dominican Republic, throughout the tropics: Guatemala, Mexico, Birundi, Brazil, Peru, Ethiopia, Guatemala,
East Timor, Ecuador, El Brazil, Colombia, Costa Peru, Venezuela Ethiopia, Kenya, Honduras, India,
Countries of
Salvador, Ethiopia, Rica, Ecuador, El Tanzania, Uganda, Indonesia, Kenya,
Origin
Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Ethiopia, Zambia, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Mexico,
Represented
Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Guatemala, Honduras, Vietnam Nicaragua, Papua New
Mexico, Nicaragua, Indonesia, Jamaica, Guinea, Peru,
Papua New Guinea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Tanzania,
Peru, Rwanda, Tanzania, Panama, Peru, Thailand, Uganda,
Thailand, Uganda. Tanzania, Vietnam, Vietnam, Zambia
Page 7
Last updated: 4/14/2009
By: Adam Kline

8. Sustainable Coffee Certifications
A Comparison Matrix
Created by the SCAA Sustainability Committee (2009)
Certification / Organic Fair Trade Rainforest Smithsonian 4C
Utz Certified
Verification Certified Alliance Bird Friendly® Common Code
Venezuela Uganda, and India.
Organic Trade Transfair USA Rainforest Alliance Smithsonia Migratory Utz Certified http://www.4c-
Association www.transfairusa.org www.rainforest- Bird Center coffeeassociation.org
www.ota.org, alliance.org Contact: Illana Burk
Information Contact: Katie Barrow Contact: Robert Rice Contact: Annette Pensel
Provided by: Contact: Danielle Contact: Petra Tanos
Giovannuci
Page 8
Last updated: 4/14/2009
By: Adam Kline