Collaboration paves the way for a common vision for responsible coffee procurement

The collaboration to jointly develop a Coffee Sector Guidance for Responsible Procurement brings together stakeholders from across the coffee value chain to create a practical framework to define and inspire adoption of responsible procurement practices that contribute to farmer prosperity and supply chain resilience. Eighteen leading companies have stepped forward to champion the joint development of the Sector Guidance, showcasing their dedication, expertise, and active support.

Facilitated by the Sustainable Food Lab (SFL), the workstream builds on complementary work undertaken by the four organisations. GIZ has worked with German retailers through the Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains Initiative (SASI), funded by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), while IDH, GCP and Solidaridad collaborated with roasters and traders to develop Coffee Common Procurement Principles. By joining forces, the organisations aim to create a shared vision and sector-wide common framework that can help align procurement practices across the coffee sector.

At the heart of the workstream is the recognition that the future of coffee depends on the prosperity and resilience of the millions of smallholder farmers and workers who produce it. Despite the significant value generated throughout global coffee supply chains, many producers continue to earn incomes below the living income benchmark. At the same time, climate change, volatile markets, rising production costs and limited access to finance continue to place increasing pressure on farming communities, threatening both livelihoods and long-term sustainability of coffee production and supply.

The partners (IDH, GCP, GIZ, and Solidaridad) of the workstream acknowledge that "Creating a sustainable future for coffee requires more than improving production practices alone.” and are convinced that "How coffee is purchased has a profound impact on farmers' livelihoods, investment capacity and long-term resilience; Procurement is one of several levers that can drive progress to improve farmer prosperity and supply resilience; however, lasting change can only be achieved through collaboration across the entire value chain, from producers and exporters to traders, roasters, and retailers.”

A Sector Guidance Built Through Collaboration

The Coffee Sector Guidance for Responsible Procurement will provide companies with a practical reference to strengthening purchasing practices and align commercial decisions with sustainability objectives in support of long-term supply resilience. Covering all coffee sourcing, the Guidance will build on the foundational Common Procurement Principles (CPP), and adapt relevant general procurement frameworks, including the Ethical Trading Initiative’s Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices in Food. This aims to support the operationalisation of the CPPs in the coffee sector, providing further structure and practical guidance for discussion, implementation, and continuous improvement.

Producers, exporters, traders, roasters, retailers and civil society will all be actively engaged throughout the development process, contributing expertise and practical insights so that the Guidance is relevant, broadly applicable and reflects realities across the coffee value chain. These inputs will be essential in shaping a shared guidance that supports a thriving future for coffee and the people who produce it.