We all know that deforestation is a pressing issue and is occurring at alarming rates. The impacts of deforestation are far reaching, not only threatening the species and communities that depend on rainforests for survival, but the important role they play in climate regulation and global warming.
Agriculture is the main driving force behind the destruction of our forests and although you may sometimes feel a bit helpless, there are small changes you can make in your every-day life to help in the fight against deforestation. So why don’t we start at the beginning of your day – coffee.
This is just a nice picture of the rainforest from when I volunteered in Costa Rica
The demand for coffee is growing each year and it is predicted that current coffee production will need to triple by 2050. To meet this demand, 74 million acres of land will need to be acquired if current farms can not enhance their current production. This ultimately means encroaching deepening into the rainforest to make space for your morning caffeine fix.
However, educating yourself on the coffee brands that you buy can empower you to make the choice to enjoy a more sustainable coffee. I hope this little guide will help you make informed choices and show you what to look out for when you next go to the supermarket.
Shade-Grown Coffee
I only learnt about shade-grown coffee recently but now I will never look back! Shade-grown coffee is when coffee is cultivated among native tree species. Incorporating the crop within the forest promotes natural ecological relationships and maintains the health of the ecosystem, supporting the highest diversity of species in comparison to other agricultural land uses. Here are just of few of the great impacts of shade-grown coffee on biodiversity:
- Typically contains 13-58 tree species (compared to 1 in coffee monocultures)
- At a site in Mexico, shade-grown coffee was home to 184 bird species (including 46 migratory bird species) compared to 6-12 bird species found at unshaded monocultures, with overall bird abundance and diversity increasing 30% in shaded farms than sun farms.
- In Indonesia, bee populations rose by 90% in shade-grown plantations
The practice of shade-grown coffee has many environmental benefits, however, due to the reduced harvest from retaining the forest surroundings, the price of shade-grown coffee often carries a premium do make up for the farmers loss in profit for farming sustainably. In my opinion, this is a small price to pay and is always worth as I know I have made the choice to do my small part for the environment.
A brand I use is Bird and Wild and I would 100% recommend their product. Not only are they certified as Bird Friendly, Fair Trade and Organic, they donate 6% of their sales to the RSPB to help protect out own wildlife. The only downside is that you have to order online, and they don’t currently do instant coffee.
Sadly, I am struggling to find shade-grown coffee brands that are available in supermarkets, or that offer instant products, but if you are a lover of ground coffee and want to do your bit for the birds and rainforest, I would highly recommended ordering yourself some shade-grown coffee (I will include links at the end for other suggested brands).
My second packet of Bird and Wild Coffee this month, I love it!
Instant Coffee
After a trip to the supermarket I came across Percol, a brand I had never heard off before. However, I was impressed with its large number of certifications, including Climate Neutral Company, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Soil Association Organic and Fairtrade. On top of this Percol received the first Plastic-Free Trustmark from A Plastic Planet meaning its packaging is free of plastic derived from fossil fuels. This brand can be found at most UK supermarkets and include instant, ground and coffee bags and have decaf products too. Brands like Percol are the perfect solution for when you don’t have time to brew your shade-grown ground coffee or fancy a decaf in the evenings.
I am enjoying Percol coffee as my instant alternative to my shade-grown coffee
Looking out for certifications when you next go to the shops can help inform you on which brands are working to reduce their environmental impacts. Fair trade is a common certification seen on many products that are produced in the global south but here are a few others to look out for:
Rainforest Alliance Certified
On most coffee products this seal indicates that 90-100% of the ingredients were grown on Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Their certification incorporates ecosystem health, human rights and rural livelihoods to work towards long-term environmental sustainability. This is done by auditing farms and companies to meet strict regulations and standards.
Keep your eye out for this logo (source at bottom of page)
Soil Association Organic
The Soil Association certifies 70% of organic food in the UK. Its strict standards ensure products along the supply chain are produced organically. Organically produced crops are more sustainable as they are not grown using chemical controls such as pesticides or herbicides, practices that negatively impact ecosystems.
Another one to look out for (source: https://ioas.org/certification_bodies/soil-association-certification-ltd/)
I hope I have provided you with the information you need to make more sustainable choices when you next shop for coffee – and other products as certifications are used on many other food items! Every small change you make to your everyday life style will add up.
Enjoy!
Useful Links and References:
https://www.conservation.org/blog/from-bean-to-barista-4-things-to-know-about-coffee-and-climate