Rainforest Alliance Coffee

Green Bean is proud to promote and supply coffee beans that carry the Rainforest Alliance Seal.

This means that these beans are produced with:

  • Less water pollution as all sources of contamination (pesticides and fertilizers, sediment, wastewaters, garbage, fuels and so on) are controlled.
  • Less soil erosion as farms implement soil conservation practices such as planting on contours and maintaining ground cover.
  • Reduced threats to the environment and human health as the most dangerous pesticides are prohibited, all agrochemical use is strictly regulated, farmers must use mechanical and biological pest controls where possible and strive to reduce both the toxicity and quantity of chemicals used.
  • Wildlife habitat protected as deforestation is stopped, the banks of rivers are protected with buffer zones, critical ecosystems such as wetlands are protected and forest patches on farms are preserved.
  • Less waste as farm by-products such as banana stems, coffee pulp, orange peels and un-marketable foliage are composted and returned to the fields as natural fertilizer. Other wastes, such as plastics, glass and metals are recycled where possible.
  • Less water used as water conservation measures are applied in washing and packing stations, housing areas and irrigation.
  • More efficient farm management as the certification program helps farmers organize, plan, schedule improvements, implement better practices, identify problems and monitor progress.
  • Improved conditions for farm workers — who are getting fair wages, decent housing, clean drinking water, sanitary facilities and a safe and wholesome work area. Workers and their families have access to schools, health care, transportation and training.
  • Improved profitability and competitiveness for farmers who have increased production, improved quality, reduced worker complaints and increased worker efficiency. The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal of approval gives the farmers more leverage at the time of sale, product differentiation, premium prices and improved access to credit.
  • More collaboration between farmers and conservationists — parks alone cannot save the world’s biodiversity; we have to ensure that wild flora and fauna find refuge outside of protected areas. Because farmers control the fate of so much land and so many critical habitats, their ideas and willing participation are essential to any local or regional conservation strategy.

Fairtrade Coffee

Fairtrade coffeeGreen Bean is passionate about promoting the sale of beans whose sales support farmers in developing nations.  We hope that you will promote Fairtrade coffees as a key element of your coffee menu.

Most of the world’s coffee beans are produced by small-scale farmers in developing countries. Because they have little bargaining power in an industry dominated by a few large and powerful international coffee companies, they are forced to put up with low and unstable prices for their beans.

During the past decade coffee farmers have faced a crisis. Prices fell to a 30-year low with as little as 3 cents from a $3 cup of coffee reaching the farmers who grew the beans. This affected 25 million small-scale farmers and their families, resulting in poor nutrition and children being taken out of school.

Buying Fairtrade coffee helps ensure farmers get a fair deal. It’s a way that you can take action to make a real difference to people’s lives.

World coffee prices have improved recently which has provided some relief for farmers and coffee workers. But the dynamics of the coffee market have not shifted in ways that guarantee long-term stability for those at the bottom of the supply chain.

By purchasing Fairtrade coffee, you can help to overcome these problems.  Fairtrade aims for everyone in the supply chain to get their fair share.