Is A Cappuccino Or Espresso A Sustainable Coffee?
While your favorite Italian coffee drinks are a welcome addition to every morning, are roasters doing what they can to ensure it is a sustainable coffee?
I totally understand that this topic isn’t at the front of your mind at 6:00AM when you are desperately assembling your morning caffeine fix. However, during those calmer parts of the day you might be wondering if your coffee roaster is doing all it can to make sure that the coffee you love will be ethically sourced and sustainable.
Why Sustainable Coffee Is Important
The global coffee industry is a cornerstone of countless economies, yet it carries significant environmental and social impacts. From deforestation to exploitative labor practices, the challenges associated with coffee production are vast and complex.
As coffee consumption continues to grow, so does the urgency to adopt sustainable practices that ensure the future of coffee cultivation while protecting the planet and supporting farmers.
Italian coffee roasters, renowned for their dedication to quality and tradition, are stepping up to meet these challenges. Companies like Illy, Lavazza, Kimbo, and Segafredo are leading the way, implementing innovative measures to make their operations more sustainable.
This article explores their efforts and the importance of industry certifications in promoting sustainable coffee.
The Ethics Of Sustainability In Italian Coffee Roasting
Sustainability is not merely a trend for Italian coffee brands; it is a requirement. The coffee industry faces mounting pressures from climate change, which threatens coffee yields and quality.
Additionally, deforestation and unsustainable farming practices endanger biodiversity, while unfair labor conditions harm workers in coffee-growing regions. Italian coffee roasters are committed to addressing these issues to:
- Maintain the high quality and availability of coffee for generations to come.
- Minimize the impact their sourcing practices (as well as farming practices) are having on the environment.
- Promote fair trade and ethically sourced coffee to improve the livelihoods of coffee farmers.
Sustainability Coffee Initiatives by Leading Italian Roasters
Illy’s Commitment To Sustainable Coffee
Illy has a long relationship with its farmers. They have established a direct, individual and lasting relationship with farmers that is based on:
- Selecting and training farmers by sharing 80 years of knowledge and business experience with them.
- Building a community by creating training programs, associations, awards and digital communities throughout the world that, over the years, contributes to disseminating the culture of coffee for the purpose of sustainable quality.
- Recognizing quality and guaranteeing a profitable price. The only way to make production truly sustainable is to ensure farmers are paid wages that sustain their livelihood.
To ensure a sustainable supply of green coffee, illycaffè has adopted the DNV “Sustainable Procurement Process”. This is a sustainability protocol applicable to organisations that intend to integrate sustainable development principles and corporate social responsibility in their goods and service supply policies and practices.
To verify that the green coffee purchasing process conducted by illycaffè is in compliance with the Protocol, we undergo an annual inspection by DNV, which is an independent entity.
Lavazza Ethically Sourced Coffee
Since 1935, Lavazza has adopted a company vision that prioritizes the economic, human, environmental and cultural heritage of the countries it has worked and continues to work with. From the very beginning, the Lavazza Group aimed at combining excellence, sustainability and innovation to guarantee maximum coffee quality with the minimum possible environmental impact.
In addition to the many projects and initiatives that the Lavazza Group has undertaken, they have also received multiple certifications, which include:
- Rainforest Alliance: This certification means we are committed to offering products from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.
- TÜV Austria Product Certification: This certification recognizes that products such as the Lavazza Eco Caps are industrially compostable
- Organic certification: This certification is given to brands and businesses that offer a product that has been harvested according to the production processes following the European Union’s regulations on organic farming.
Kimbo’s Sustainable Product Design
Kimbo seems to focus their sustainable coffee efforts on product design. Their new coffee pods are designed with sustainability in mind, and are both organic and fully compostable.
The product boxes themselves, meanwhile, are made from recyclable paper, while the inner sachet is disposable in plastic, ensuring that each and every element of the product has been considered with the environment at their heart.
Thanks to Kimbo’s evident commitment to sustainability, the brand’s pods have already been recognised by:
- TÜV Austria Product Certification: This certification recognizes that products such as the Lavazza Eco Caps are industrially compostable
- OK Compost certification: which guarantees that a product meets the stringent requirements of the UNI EN 13432 standard after undergoing thorough laboratory analysis.
Segafredo Zanetti Acting Responsibly
Segafredo Zanetti France, part of Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, has been rewarded with the EcoVadis gold medal. The EcoVadis certification assesses the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) performance of a company by evaluating its related policies, actions, and results.
Ethical Coffee Roaster Need To Maintain Diligence
Despite their efforts and awards, major Italian coffee roasters face several challenges in achieving sustainability. Balancing profitability with the costs of implementing sustainable practices is a significant hurdle. Additionally, climate change poses ongoing risks to coffee cultivation, requiring constant innovation and adaptation.
Making The Best Italian Coffee
Sustainable coffee roasters in Italy like Illy, Lavazza, Kimbo, and Segafredo are setting an example for the global coffee industry through their commitment to sustainability. By investing in sustainable farming practices, supporting coffee-growing communities, and obtaining key industry certifications, these companies are working to secure the future of coffee.
If you would like to read more about what makes the best Italian coffee, please take a look at some of these supporting articles:
- What Is The Best Italian Coffee? A Comprehensive Guide.
- Your Complete Guide To What Coffee Is Popular In Italy.
- Authentic illy Italian Coffee For Your Espresso Experience.
- Why Drinking Lavazza Italian Coffee At Home Is A Must.
- Discovering Kimbo Italian Coffee Is Amazingly Delicious.
- What Coffee Do Italians Drink When Nobody Is Looking?
- Where Do Italians Get Their Coffee In The Morning?
- Coffee Packaging Options For Making Italian Coffee at Home.
- The Best Italian Coffee Beans Result In The Best Roast.
