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The global coffee industry is growing. Indeed, 25 million producers located in more than 80 intertropical countries live from the cultivation of coffee beans. It is quite simply the first food product traded in the world. As in many sectors, small producers (those who farm less than five hectares) are often the worst off. At the end of the chain, incomes remain low. The power is mostly in the hands of traders, multinationals and distributors.
In addition, consumption patterns and profitability requirements have transformed coffee growing in a few decades. Formerly produced in a traditional way, coffee now grows faster and is disease-free thanks to the massive use of phytosanitary products. The quantity of coffee harvests is increasing at the expense of quality, leading to soil depletion and ultimately weakening the resilience of the plants. This is why institutions, NGOs and producers themselves want to find a healthier and fairer way to grow coffee. The attribution of labels for organic coffees or coffees that tend to be organic is totally in line with this perspective. Let's find out what the thematic labels are and why you should choose organic coffees with a label.
The labels attest that a coffee producer is committed to respecting a more or less strict set of specifications, both on the quality of the product and its origin. Sometimes, the label assures consumers that the coffee has been grown by small producers, that its transformation did not require chemical products. In short, a label guarantees the quality of the product on one or more agronomic, societal or environmental aspects. In a way, labels give confidence to buyers.
Beware, many producers have one or more labels without having the organic designation. At the same time, some organic coffees do not have other labels. Several types of labels exist for organic coffee.
As the name suggests, the institutional label is issued by governmental institutions. Very often, these are labels that certify organic farming. Thus, the AB (Agriculture Biologique) label certifies that the coffee is 100% organic. This label is issued by the French Agency for the Development and Promotion of Organic Agriculture, created by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Other institutional labels are issued at the European level (European Organic Agriculture, Eurofoil).
Some organic coffees have a self-certified label. This means that the producers and manufacturers themselves establish a set of specifications, as well as constraints to be respected. However, the self-certified label does not guarantee organic cultivation or a production method according to institutional standards. For example, the label "Symbol of Peasant Producers" (SPP) certifies that a coffee comes from a small farm and not from a plantation, that its cultivation does not harm the surrounding environment, etc. This label is transmitted by CLAC, the federation of Latin American producers. Self-certified labels are also developed by major brands such as Nestlé (AAA program) or Starbucks (Coffee Practices).
Other labels exist for organic coffee, such as the "bio +" label, which guarantees more restrictive constraints than the organic labels. A third major category of labels exists, the "thematic labels".
The thematic labels do not meet the specifications of organic labels. Indeed, a coffee that has a thematic label is not necessarily organic. On the other hand, this label is based on a particular criterion. For example, it supports a specific cause, defines ethical production guidelines or guarantees a healthy redistribution of profits to small producers. Thematic labels are often issued by NGOs (non-governmental organizations). An organic coffee can be awarded with one or more thematic labels. Here are the most famous in the world of coffee.
The Rainforest Alliance label guarantees an approach to sustainable development. The NGO Rainforest Alliance fights against tropical deforestation, for the preservation of ecosystems and its inhabitants. For coffee production, this label aims to :
Originally created by Mexican producers in 1988, this international label is intended to help producers in the southern hemisphere to stop being financially assisted and to become actors in their development. The independent organization that supervises the label is located in the Netherlands. It has named the label after the hero of a 19th century anti-colonial novel, Max Havelaar. The objectives of the label are:
UTZ comes from the Mayan phrase "utz kapez", which means "good coffee". The result of a meeting between Guatemalan producers and a Dutch roaster in 1997, UTZ Certified is an independent label that focuses on production processes. The label certifies decent working conditions and limited environmental impact. UTZ Certified only issues labels for coffee, tea and cocoa.
The Bird Friendly label is the result of a scientific committee that aims at the environmental sustainability of coffee plantations. However, the objective of the label is to protect the natural habitat of birds within the cultivation areas. The coffee plants are grown without the use of pesticides, in the shade of trees that provide shelter for migratory birds.
Café Femenino helps women coffee producers to improve their working conditions and lift them out of poverty. Created in Peru in 2003, the Café Femenino label is based on precise criteria. The cooperative applying for the label must commit to giving financial and commercial decision-making power to women producers. The label aims to increase family incomes, reduce physical and moral abuse and increase the number of young girls in school.
Thematic labels have positive effects on the coffee industry. They bring the producer closer to the consumer and provide financial security to thousands of workers. The attribution of a label adds value to the production and a certain credibility in front of the intermediaries and the negotiators.
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