Rainforest Alliance

Costa Coffee, the UK's largest and fastest growing coffee shop, plans to convert its entire coffee supply to sustainably grown beans sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms.

From September 2008 at least 30% of Costa's unique Mocha Italia blend, which forms the base of its coffee drinks, will come from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ sources, equal to about 1000 tonnes of green coffee over the course of a year.

Farms that have earned the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal have made improvements in the way the farm is managed including reducing pesticide use, improving worker safety, ensuring workers have decent housing and access to clean water, as well as education and medical care for themselves and their families. Wildlife and water, forests and soils must also be protected.

The standards were developed by the Rainforest Alliance, an independent, international environment organisation, and other conservation groups that comprise the Sustainable Agriculture Network. To find out more about the Rainforest Alliance visit www.rainforest-alliance.org

Each farm in the scheme is inspected by local experts at least once a year, and farms must continue to demonstrate progress in order to maintain their certified status. Farmers often find that the programme pays dividends in more efficient farm management, cost savings and increased production and coffee quality.

Costa believes investing in sustainable farming practices helps to produce a better quality coffee bean. Through the Costa Foundation and now through its coffee purchasing decisions, Costa is contributing to a sustainable future for the coffee growing communities on which its own success depends.

Fairtrade

Costa will continue to offer its very own blend of fairtrade coffee. Customers can enjoy a fairtrade coffee option on any of Costa's espresso based drinks at no extra cost.

The fairtrade blend has been created from six high quality fairly traded beans sourced by Costa from different origins to produce a well-balanced, smooth coffee with fragrant and delicate aromas.