While Starbucks shareholders recently voted down an initiative to increase the company's recycling at locations, Caribou Coffee has announced its intent to become the first major U.S. coffeehouse committing to 100 percent Rainforest Alliance certification for all of its coffees. The company said it expects to acheive this goal by the end of 2011.
To celebrate the announcement, beginning April 15 guests can purchase two new 100 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified blends, Lacuna and Lakeshore, at all Caribou Coffee locations nationwide and at www.cariboucoffee.com.
The two new coffees, Lacuna and Lakeshore, will join the five Caribou Coffee blends already 100 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified — Colombia Timaná, Guatemala El ParaÃso, Sumatra Samosir Batak, La Minita Peaberry and Costa Rica Sombra del Poro. Currently, almost all of Caribou Coffee's blends are at least 30 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified and more than 85 percent of the company's overall coffee purchases in 2010 will be Rainforest Alliance Certified, totaling around 17 million pounds.
Rainforest Alliance certification is a sustainability certification built on three pillars of sustainability — environmental, social and economic — and works by setting standards to guide growers and farm operations of all sizes to true sustainable agriculture practices.
As a part of this commitment, Caribou Coffee also will work with its current growers to achieve Rainforest Alliance certification before sourcing new partners, said Chad Trewick, senior director of coffee and tea for Caribou Coffee.
"Our close relationships with our partners at origin lead to mutually beneficial purchasing practices and the highest-quality coffee available, so we are encouraging the farms that we currently buy from to achieve certification," said Trewick. "This means that not only are we committed to furthering sustainable coffee production, we're also committed to preserving the long-standing sourcing relationships that uphold the same flavor profiles of all of our traditional blends."
In honor of Earth Day, Caribou Coffee also will be giving a free reusable coffee clutch to every guest who purchases two pounds of Lacuna or Lakeshore Blend starting April 15, while supplies last.
