Today, I learnt something important about coffee. Yes, yes I’m back to drinking coffee – in moderation, but that is not what this is about. What I was quite unaware of, is how thoroughly unsustainable a lot of coffee growing really is. Yes, of course I knew about exploitation of coffee farmers and sure I dutifully buy my Max Havelaar or similar. And yes I vaguely knew about deforestation – but not the full extent of these practices. So here is the thing. Coffee beans require a lot of shade to grow. However, in the coffee industry nowadays (as in almost any industry, for that matter) it is all about large scale and quick results. Giant sun-grown coffee plantations produce lower quality coffee at a much faster rate, needing enormous quantities of water and using truckloads of chemicals and pesticides in order to make up for the lack of shade and destruction of the natural habitat. Moreover, in their stride they have also destroyed the natural habitat of migratory birds.
So actually, coffee is a one of the most unsustainable and, considering the uncontrolled use of pesticides, unhealthy beverages. Unless you get bird-friendly, shade-grown, fair trade organic coffee. That seems like a lot to have to look out for, but fortunately there are a number of certificates around that guarantee not only fair wages for the farmers, but also environmentally sound farming methods. Look out for these labels: Fair Trade (always shade-grown), Max Havelaar, Bird Friendly, Rainforest Alliance (although this label does not give price guarantees!). I will, from now on.
