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2. Sustainability Collaboration: For coffee roasters 5. Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives (MSIs): The report
and trading companies, the 2023 Coffee Barometer empha- acknowledges the success of MSIs in engaging various
sizes the need for improved sustainability collaboration, stakeholders in sustainability initiatives. However, it also
reporting, transparency, and supply chain due diligence. warns against MSIs potentially allowing large companies to
It calls on companies to work together to address these position themselves as champions of sustainability, raising
issues collectively. questions about their effectiveness and impact.
3. European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): 6. Climate Change: Climate change is a significant
The report addresses the looming EUDR, a government threat to the coffee industry, with research suggesting that
regulation aimed at promoting sustainability and supply half of the land suitable for arabica coffee production may
chain due diligence in the coffee industry. It points out that become unsuitable by 2050. Urgent action is needed to
many coffee companies within the EU are ill-prepared for promote climate adaptation measures, with a focus on cli-
compliance, and there is a risk that costs and administrative mate-smart, regenerative agriculture and agroforestry.
burdens may be shifted onto small-scale farmers, affecting 7. Coffee Brew Index: A new addition to the 2023
their livelihoods. edition is the Coffee Brew Index, which evaluates the
4. Living Income and Wages: The concept of living sustainability concerns of 11 of the world’s largest coffee
incomes and wages for coffee farmers and workers has companies, including the ones I mention in this article and
gained traction, but the report emphasizes the need for more. The report assesses these companies in categories
deeper commitments and collaborations to achieve mean- such as environmental sustainability, social issues, eco-
ingful sector-wide change. It also highlights the overlooked nomic sustainability, and purchasing practices. It reveals
issue of living wage gaps among coffee workers. that many companies struggle to provide up-to-date infor-
mation about their sustainability practices and supply
chain transparency.
The 2023 Coffee Barometer serves as a critical as-
sessment of the state of sustainability in the coffee indus-
try. It highlights the urgent need for more transparent and
collaborative efforts to address the challenges faced by
coffee producers, particularly small-scale farmers. The
report underscores the importance of aligning market
prices with production costs, promoting climate-smart
agriculture, and ensuring that regulations like the EUDR
do not disproportionately burden vulnerable farming
communities. It also sheds light on the role of multi-stake-
holder initiatives and the need for greater transparency in
corporate sustainability practices. The Coffee Barometer
is a wake-up call for the coffee industry to take more
meaningful and impactful steps towards sustainability and
social responsibility.
To sum this all up, the world of coffee is more than
just a warm cup of comfort; it’s a tapestry of stories, chal-
lenges, and ambitions. Big coffee companies have taken
significant strides towards supporting coffee communities
and embracing corporate social responsibility. Real-life
success stories and transformative initiatives have improved
the lives of coffee farmers and safeguarded the environment.
However, amidst these commendable efforts, criticisms and
controversies persist, questioning the authenticity and
impact of private certification programs. The journey to-
wards a more responsible coffee industry is ongoing, with
the 2023 Coffee Barometer shedding light on the industry’s
successes and shortcomings. As consumers, it’s our role to
demand transparency, ensuring that every sip of our belov-
ed coffee embodies a promise of positive change.

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