Committed to coffee farmers’ prosperity and to reduce the coffee industry’s impact on the environment and mitigate climate change
On International Coffee Day 2022, Members and partners of the International Coffee Organization (ICO) come together to move the coffee sector from a linear to a circular economy:
To celebrate all those working hard to make the three billion delicious coffee cups we enjoy every day around the world.
To recognize that transforming waste in the coffee sector into new products and alternative energy options creates important income and job opportunities and reduces production costs.
As the only international organization that brings together coffee exporting and importing governments, the ICO builds effective global partnerships between governments, the coffee industry, civil society and coffee farmers, guided by the overriding goal of achieving a sustainable and resilient sector, and the prosperity of all grower communities around the world.
The coffee sector is a crucial anchor for development and a driver of prosperity and sustainability.
Producing and drinking coffee helps to make the world a better place by generating jobs and income in over 60 coffee producing countries and for millions of people worldwide engaged with the coffee sector (not to mention happiness for millions of coffee lovers!)
Generating and sharing innovative and circular solutions for the global coffee value chain will foster economic, social and environmental sustainability from seed to cup, farmers to baristas and producers to conscious consumers, producers and retailers.
What is circular economy?
“A circular economy is an industrial system that is restorative or regenerative, built around principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible:
Transforming waste into new products and energy, generating new jobs and income opportunities
“Recycling alone will not save us.” Circular economy is a “bigger idea” — a significant restructuring that forces us to rethink how we’ve done things since the rise of the first steam engine”, Ellen MacArthur Foundation CEO Andrew Morlet, 2020.
A circular coffee economy and solutions will help farmers, governments, businesses and consumers work together to create better jobs and income, reduce pollution and fight climate change: the ICO is here for all of you!
“Business as usual is not a sufficient strategy to secure the long-term economic sustainability of the coffee sector. Instead, systemic change is required.” (ICO)
Implementing sustainable circular models in the coffee sector and digitalizing key processes to reinvent and make the coffee value chain sustainable and resilient
Coffee is both one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world and one of the most important internationally traded commodities.
Let’s transform and reinvent the global coffee value chain to generate a fair and win-win economic transaction, particularly for coffee farmers
Let’s integrate the circular business model and solutions in the coffee sector, along with digital tools.
We must move away from the traditional coffee business model that has become increasingly unsustainable for coffee producers and the environment, with huge waste production, high energy consumption and limited to no usage of disposals, and head towards inclusive circular models that reward sustainability, transparency, quality and hard work.
For every cup of coffee produced or consumed, there is a circular solution to give farmers a new opportunity to earn a living income and wage and reach prosperity through:
Regenerative and SMART coffee agriculture
Green industry and retail with zero waste and pollution
Responsible consumption and disposal
THERE ARE MANY CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS WITHIN THE COFFEE SECTOR…
1. Why dispose of coffee cherry pulp when we can create organic fertilizers and energy drinks or transform ‘coffee honey water’ into consumable sweet syrup?
2. Instead of using pollution-generating fossil fuels, we can opt for coffee husks to produce energy (biofuels).
3. Making trade, transportation and logistics more efficient we reduce costs and our “coffee footprint”.
4. Improving energy efficiency and waste management in the retail sector we can make the coffee sector more sustainable and minimize costs.
5. We use coffee grinds to grow mushrooms, produce energy and integrate into fabrics and textiles for shoes, clothing, and furniture…millions of ideas…
6. All engaged in recycling and reuse coffee cups and coffee pods/capsules.
ARE YOU A CONSCIOUS CONSUMER, RETAILER OR PRODUCER? WHICH NEW IDEAS OR SOLUTIONS HAVEN’T WE COVERED?
1. Initiatives you have launched to celebrate this #internationalcoffeeday2022 !
2. Your contribution to ICO interventions to support a more sustainable culture and secure the future of our favorite beverage.
Today, enjoy your coffee journey and reduce waste from farm to cup through innovative circular initiatives. The ICO wishes you a Happy International Coffee Day!
What can you do?
If you have a new idea to reduce waste or transform it into new products, energy, income, or job opportunities, please get in touch with the ICO:
WRITE TO info@ico.org with circular solution in the subject.
Discover our previous edition in French ; Portuguese ; Spanish and the ICO Coffee International Day Trailer:
Credits:
Erstellt mit Bildern von sebra - "People drinking coffee high angle view" • amenic181 - "Variety of cups of coffee and coffee beans in burlap sack on black background." • Fischer Food Design - "coffee beans on a white background" • Coloures-Pic - "Cup of Coffee with World Map"