What's the Deal with the Seals?
If your coffee doesn't make you dizzy, then the seals on your coffee bag just might. Fair Trade, Bird-Friendly, Shade Grown, Organic—with so many seals making claims about social and environmental responsibility, even the most informed consumer can get confused. This resource provides a side-by-side comparison of the logos you are most likely to find on your coffee, and tells you what each one really does for farmers and the environment.
When you compare them, we think you will understand why CRS has chosen to get behind Fair Trade. Quite simply, Fair Trade is the only set of standards that guarantees low-income farmers will earn a fair price for their coffee.
Click on the logos below to learn more about each one.
About Fair Trade Certified Coffee Certifying Agency: TransFair USA, an affiliate of the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International
CRS Notes: There are a lot of logos out there making a lot of claims about social and environmental responsibility. But Fair Trade is the only set of standards that guarantees farmers will earn a fair price for their coffee-enough to cover their costs of production and provide a worthy standard of living for their families. The Fair Trade Certified logo is regulated by TransFair USA, an NGO that ensures all Fair Trade Certified products in the United States are traded in compliance with the principles articulated below. When you see the Fair Trade Certified logo on your coffee, you can be assured that the farmers who grew your coffee were paid fairly and treated with dignity.
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About Coffee from Fair Trade Federation Members Membership Organization: Fair Trade Federation
CRS Notes: Unlike the other logos profiled here, the Fair Trade Federation logo pictured above is not a certification. This means that it does not represent a third party inspection and certification system. Instead, it signifies membership in the Fair Trade Federation, an organization of wholesalers and retailers committed to uphold the Fair Trade principles identified below in all their trading relationships. When you buy coffee bearing the FTF label, you can be assured that the farmers who grew your coffee were paid fairly and treated with dignity.
Click here to view the full text of Fair Trade Federation Principles and Practices
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About Certified Bird-Friendly and Shade-Grown Coffee Certifying Agency: Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
CRS Notes: The Smithsonian's Bird-Friendly Certification process certifies that coffee bearing the logo above is grown under a dense forest canopy comprised of diverse species of trees. As its name indicates, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center is concerned primarily with the protection of the rare and endangered migratory birds that live in coffee growing regions. The organization works to achieve this goal through a series of rigorous standards governing the density and diversity of both rustic and planted shade trees in coffee growing areas. Since the principal requirements involve measuring the quantity and quality of shade, coffee that meets the standards identified below is also commonly referred to as Certified Shade-Grown coffee.
The Bird-Friendly Certification has no minimum social or economic standards.
Click here to view the full text of the standards for Certified Bird-Friendly coffee.
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About Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee Certifying Agency: Rainforest Alliance
CRS Notes: Rainforest Alliance Certification promotes the conservation of native ecosystems and forest protection by assuring compliance with a range of environmental, social and organizational standards established by the Sustainable Action Network. The primary focus of the Rainforest Alliance Certification is environmental, with rigorous requirements for ecosystem conservation and forest protection, including stipulations on the density (more than 28 trees per acre), diversity (at least 12 species) and structure (at least two strata) of shade trees. In addition to coffee, Rainforest Alliance also certifies bananas, cocoa, flowers, citrus fruits and other items.
Click here to view the full text of Rainforest Alliance Certification standards for coffee.
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About Certified Organic Coffee Certifying Agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
CRS Notes: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established a comprehensive set of standards that must be met by anyone who uses the "organic" label in the United States. USDA standards on food (and coffee) focus on the products used in growing our food and the processes by which our food is handled. According to The Consumers Union Guide to Environmental Labels , USDA organic standards generally prohibit the use of "most synthetic (and petroleum derived) pesticides and fertilizers, and all antibiotics, genetic engineering, irradiation and sewage sludge."
USDA accredits more than 50 certifying organizations that actually inspect producers to verify compliance with its standards.
Consumers should know that there are three separate tiers of organic labels based on the percentage of organic ingredients:
- 100% Organic Products bearing this term must be comprised exclusively of organic ingredients. Products in this category can bear the USDA Organic logo and those of accredited certifying agencies.
- Organic Products labeled "organic" must have 95 percent organic ingredients, and the 5 percent of non-organic ingredients must be identified on the National List . Products in this category can bear the USDA Organic logo and those of accredited certifying agencies.
- Made with Organic Ingredients Products bearing these words must have 70 percent organic ingredients, and the 30 percent of non-organic ingredients must be identified on the National List . Products in this category can bear the logo of an accredited certifying agency, but not the USDA Organic logo.
Click here to view the full text of USDA Organic standards. (Be forewarned-it is 554 pages!)
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In addition to the USDA logo above, your certified organic coffee may bear the seal of a USDA-accredited third-party certifying agency, such as those listed below.
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