Costa Coffee will become the first UK coffee shop chain to source its entire coffee supply from certified sustainable farms. Marketing Director, David Hutchinson, announced Costa’s plan to source all of its coffee from Rainforest Alliance Certified by 2010. From September 2008 at least 30% of the coffee used in Costa’s Mocha Italia coffee blend, which forms the base of its coffee drinks, will come from certified sources, equal to about 1000 tonnes of green coffee over the course of a year.

In order to earn the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal farms must meet rigorous standards developed by the Rainforest Alliance. The Rainforest Alliance is an independent, international non-profit NGO that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behaviour. Farms must make improvements in the way the farm is managed including reducing pesticide use, improving worker safety, ensuring workers have decent housing and access to clean water, as well as education and medical care for themselves and their families.

(Carlo Odello)

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