Definition of Climate Change Coffee

1. (noun) A term describing an entire coffee supply chain (from production to consumption) that is actively working towards the lowest possible carbon footprint, and actively restores forests and biodiversity at the source of its supply. In other words, it is a complete coffee supply chain that addresses climate change. 
Since corporations are legally considered “persons” … If Climate Change Coffee were a person, it would be someone who measures and works to reduce the carbon footprint of every action in their own daily life to zero, while at the same time planting trees every day in order to reverse the existing ecological damage and act with urgency on lowering earth’s unsafe CO2 levels.
2. Related: Merchants of Green Coffee’s Cafe Solar® is the first example of a truly sustainable green coffee supply and Climate Change Coffee is the first roasted coffee coffee blend to meet all of the necessary Climate Change Coffee Qualifications (below).

Synonyms: Restorative Coffee, Sustainable Coffee, Climate Ready Coffee.

Climate Change Coffee Qualifications

Simply transitioning a coffee brand/business to zero carbon footprint is not enough to qualify. A true “Climate Change Coffee” must prove its impact within its own supply chain by:

First, recognizing that coffee (as it is grown, processed, traded and consumed today) is not sustainable since all of it contributes (in some way) to our number one world issue: climate change.

Then, choosing to act by engaging in ALL of the following:

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Measuring its carbon footprint accurately.
• Working to reduce its carbon footprint.
• Not relying on/causing any deforestation for processing.
• Not relying on/causing any avoidable pollution of local environment at any stage of production.
• Actively restoring forests at coffee source & improving local biodiversity.
• Paying growers a fair, living wage; always above the cost of production.
• Mandating 100% recyclable, low-footprint packaging across entire consumer product range.
• Proving its supply chain is carbon neutral or carbon positive.
• Maintaining full transparency about future goals and activities.
• Proving a genuine and honest commitment to climate action without any green-washing.

Note: This is a working definition established by Merchants of Green Coffee that will expand with more detail as it aims to accurately reflect the various and changing priorities of the current climate emergency, coffee growers and coffee-producing regions; while accounting for the latest science and innovations in sustainable development.

Source: Information collected and summarized by Merchants of Green Coffee Inc. from our own corporate documents, in addition to those of our Cafe Solar® partners at the Mesoamerican Development Institute (MDI). Together, we have been working in coffee sustainability for more than 25 years.