Yesterday, the Max Havelaar Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary with a milestone launch: climate-neutral Fairtrade coffee.
The Climate Challenge
Global warming demands urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It's deeply unfair that people in the world's poorest countries, with the smallest CO2 footprints, bear the brunt of its impacts.
Small Farmers on the Frontline
Smallholder farmers are hit hardest. They rely on their land's yield, which is disrupted by droughts, frosts, extreme rains, and shifting seasons.
Max Havelaar Fairtrade Support
These farmers lack the financial means to adapt alone. Fairtrade steps in with a guaranteed minimum price, environmental stewardship, and essential training programs.
What is Climate-Neutral Coffee?
Partnering with development organization ICCO, Max Havelaar unveiled this innovative product on its anniversary. Coffee production—from growing and processing to transport and roasting—emits CO2. The approach combines emission reductions where possible with compensation via verified credits earned elsewhere.
Proven Reductions
Participating roasters meticulously calculated CO2 emissions across the entire Fairtrade supply chain, up to distribution. They slashed emissions as much as feasible, then offset the rest using credits from Ethiopian coffee farmers. This provides farmers with extra income to build resilience against climate change.
Ready for Climate-Neutral Coffee?
Currently available to large-scale buyers, it's set to hit supermarkets next year.
More information about climate neutral coffee>>
Image: Tineke D'Haese
