Rainforest Alliance Coffee

Understanding the Rainforest Alliance approach to coffee certification.

Certification system

The Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard combines requirements covering farming, social conditions, environmental practices and management, supported by certification and traceability systems.

Traceability

Certification depends on knowing where certified coffee enters and moves through the supply chain. Traceability is therefore a central part of certification claims.

Deforestation due diligence

Coffee sold into the EU is increasingly affected by deforestation due-diligence requirements. Certification systems can provide supporting information, but legal compliance remains the responsibility of the relevant operators and traders.

What the label does not mean

A certification label is not a guarantee that a coffee is organic, carbon neutral, high quality or fairly priced unless the relevant claim is separately defined and evidenced.