Why Is Fair Trade Coffee Important?

Fair trade, organic, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ certification. Just when you thought you'd chosen a preferred brand and style of coffee, you get to the sustainability and fair use claims. Each of these terms tells you something about the beans in the bag you're holding — but what? KaTom will break down the purpose and verification behind each of these coffee claims so you can ensure you're supporting sustainable, safe coffee production with every cup.

What Is Fair Trade Coffee: Table of Contents

• What Is Fair Trade Coffee?
• What Is Organic Coffee?
• What Is Rainforest Alliance Coffee?
• What Is Bird-friendly Coffee?

What Is Fair Trade Coffee?

Fair trade coffee assures the buyer that the coffee was grown, processed, and transported in a way that doesn't exploit farmers and other workers in the process. However, this label can be a little fuzzy as different countries have different fair trade organizations; sometimes there are multiple organizations claiming the title of fair trade within a single country. All of them are designed to protect the original producers of the product you're purchasing, though they have different standards, covered products, and degrees of verification.

Fair trade attempts to ensure several standards are met:

• Price protection to prevent farmers from going bankrupt during supply surpluses
• Labor standards to stop the exploitation of children and ensure workers have collective bargaining rights
• Environmentally friendly farming practices
• Additional funds to help better a supplier's farm and community

The most commonly used and widely recognized organization is Fairtrade® International,¹ with the American branch called Fairtrade America.² Fairtrade (one word) has a blue, black, and green logo in the shape of a person waving, as seen here. While there are criticisms to be levied at any organization this size, Fairtrade International is one of the most trusted fair trade organizations in the world.³

Fair Trade USA®⁴ is the other major fair trade organization in the United States. It uses a black and green logo of a person holding a pot, as seen on the left. Fair Trade USA broke off from Fairtrade International in 2012,⁵ and although they initially used the same standards, Fair Trade USA has implemented different standards since then. Banana Link, a UK-based nonprofit organization that monitors fair trade standards, ranks Fair Trade USA lower than Fairtrade International on multiple metrics.⁶ However, both attempt to improve the working conditions and livelihoods of the farmers producing your coffee.

What Is Organic Coffee?

Unlike the descriptor "fair trade," the US Department of Agriculture certifies certain products as organic, meaning most American consumers don't have to do much research to find good, organic products. The USDA defines organic agriculture as "a production system that…respond[s] to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biological diversity."⁷ Organic coffee is grown without using synthetic substances, such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers,⁸ and is favored by some consumers for this reason. Organic coffee isn't necessarily grown in an environmentally sustainable way, but the steps that are required to be certified organic preclude some environmentally harmful practices.

What Is Rainforest Alliance Coffee?

While fair trade focuses on the farmer and organic focuses on processes and eliminating chemicals, Rainforest Alliance was initially focused on promoting sustainable agriculture and protecting the environment.⁹ Rainforest Alliance is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded by environmental activists in 1986.¹⁰ The Alliance's current goals are protecting forests, improving the livelihood of farmers and forest communities, and reducing agricultural impacts on climate change.¹¹ Rainforest Alliance also works to preserve biodiversity and prevent species loss. The logo has a green frog surrounded by the words "Rainforest Alliance / People & Nature."¹²

What Is UTZ-certified Coffee?

UTZ certification was subsumed into the Rainforest Alliance certification in 2018.¹³ These standards deal more with the human side of coffee production than the forestry side. While the UTZ label once meant the product was made with fair labor practices, no child labor, and healthy working conditions, the Rainforest Alliance frog now symbolizes that same commitment to supporting coffee farmers.

What Is Bird-friendly Coffee?

Bird-friendly certification is offered by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center¹⁴ and ensures the coffee was grown in a manner that protects the habitats birds need to thrive. Bird-friendly certified farms are also completely organic, meaning they don't use harmful pesticides. Bird-friendly growers must ensure a certain mix of foliage cover, tree height, and overall biodiversity that encourages the health of bird species wherever the coffee is grown. The stringent standards also ensure that the farms producing bird-friendly coffee are helping fight climate change.

Bird-friendly coffee is grown in the shade of high tree canopies that serve as ideal habitats for migratory birds, orchids, insects, bats, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and a myriad of species.¹⁵ This form of farming protects the coffee plant from rain and sun while helping maintain the soil quality. It also reduces the need for weeding, aids in pest control, reduces erosion, contributes nutrients to the soil, and prevents metal toxicity.

References

1. Fairtrade International. Fairtrade International. Accessed January 2022.
2. Fairtrade America. Fairtrade America. Accessed January 2022.
3. A Guide to Fair Trade Labels. Fair Trade Winds. Accessed January 2022.
4. Fair Trade Certified. Fair Trade Certified. Accessed January 2022.
5. Banana Link. Banana Link. Accessed January 2022.
6. International Guide to Fair Trade Labels 2020. Banana Link. Accessed January 2022.
7. Guide for Organic Crop Producers. USDA. Accessed January 2022.
8. What Is Organic Coffee?. Ethical Coffee. Accessed January 2022.
9. What Is Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee?. Ethical Coffee. Accessed January 2022.
10. Daniel R. Katz. Rainforest Alliance. Accessed January 2022.
11. About Rainforest Alliance. Rainforest Alliance. Accessed January 2022.
12. What Does Rainforest Alliance Certified Mean? Rainforest Alliance. Accessed January 2022.
13. UTZ Certification (Now Part of Rainforest Alliance). Rainforest Alliance. Accessed January 2022.
14. Smithsonian Bird Friendly. Smithsonian Institute. Accessed January 2022.
15. About Bird-friendly Coffee. Smithsonian Institute. Accessed January 2022.