Sustainable Coffee Purchases Decline, Sparking Call for Deeper Impact Metrics – CoffeeTalk

The Sustainable Coffee Purchases Report 2025 by the Global Coffee Platform (GCP) signifies the eighth year of collaborative reporting among its members, incorporating data from 14 prominent coffee roasters and retailers. The report indicates a record level of participation while pinpointing a significant challenge in the sector: the need to assess sustainability beyond mere purchase volumes of coffee.

This edition offers analyses on the responsible sourcing progress of notable companies such as JDE Peet’s, Julius Meinl, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Nestlé, employing standardized and comparable metrics. The sustained participation and transparency within the sector are highlighted by the engagement of 14 reporting companies and 30 eligible sustainability schemes. Notably, for the first time, 13 sustainability scheme owners utilizing a 2nd Party Assurance System also contributed detailed transparency reports, revealing data on farmer reach, production volumes, and land area under their initiatives. Such collective efforts significantly enrich the sector’s comprehension of sustainable coffee production and sourcing.

However, the 2025 results unveil a first-ever decline in reported sustainable coffee purchase volumes. This downturn is largely attributed to a shift in sourcing practices by a major player, with a notable 26% decrease in volumes sourced via sustainability schemes with a 2nd Party Assurance System. In contrast, the volumes from schemes adhering to a 3rd Party Assurance System remained stable. The variance in reporting companies compared to previous years also influenced outcomes, reinforcing the need to consider long-term trends alongside annual data.

These findings reflect the dual nature of collective reporting; while sustainable coffee purchases serve as the most widely accepted measure for tracking sourcing commitments within the sector, raw purchase volumes do not necessarily indicate improved outcomes for farmers or enhanced resilience within supply chains. Continuous collaborative efforts across all facets of the coffee industry are essential for improving measurement methodologies that accurately depict the impact of their practices on farmers and environmental sustainability.

GCP Executive Director Annette Pensel emphasized the importance of collaboration among all actors in the sector—from farmers and retailers to the finance sector and civil society organizations—to foster transparency, accountability, and improvement in measuring the extent of contributions toward shared sustainability goals. Progress relies on the integration of sector-wide sustainability tools, including the Coffee SR Code and GCP’s Equivalence Mechanism, which aligns various sustainability schemes with the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code according to their assurance systems.

Addressing growing uncertainties in the coffee sector, such as market volatility, climate challenges, and regulatory pressures, GCP is focused on fostering greater alignment and shared methodologies to mitigate fragmentation and enhance efficiency in sustainability efforts. Feedback from stakeholders involved in GCP’s review of the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code calls for stronger evidence of effective practices, identification of gap areas, and more strategic investment targeting.

In response, GCP aims to refine its tools and indicators, set for a revised publication in 2027, aiming to establish a robust evidence base for joint action and investment in sustainable coffee production and the transition toward regenerative practices (RegenCoffee).

As the coffee industry confronts intricate sustainability challenges, GCP is dedicated to facilitating a collaborative platform where diverse stakeholders can collectively work towards a sustainable coffee future, promoting the principle that shared responsibility translates into shared action.

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