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Happy International Coffee Day, a whole holiday set aside to honor our favorite change-making beverage!
One of the most common questions people ask about conscious consumerism is how to start making a difference. It’s overwhelming to consider all of the impact ofallof our purchases in one go - so much so that some people can feel too intimidated to even start. This is why our founder and CEO, Jane Mosbacher Morris, suggests starting by focusing on just one everyday purchase, and considering how we can make that purchase more ethical. Her favorite example? Coffee!
“One of my values is supporting female-owned businesses, and one of my favorite parts of the day is my morning cup of coffee,” Jane explainedin a recent interview with Forbes. “With the help of the coffee industry’s robust supply chain transparency, I use my coffee habit to support this value by purchasing from women-owned and operated coffee businesses that sell women-grown coffee.”
The coffee market rakes in more than $30 billion a year, and there are 25 million small coffee producers around the world who rely on coffee to make a living. This is an industry that is especially reliant on women, as they provide 70% of the labor in the coffee production process. (Coffee isn’t the only agricultural industry where women do much of the work - it’s estimated that 50-80% of world food production is conducted by women.) Despite this, coffee is largely a male-dominated industry at its highest levels, leaving women and other at-risk farmers in a vulnerable position.
So how do we make sure that coffee revenue translates to fair wages for the people who farm it? We start by asking questions about our favorite roaster’s supply chain.
The coffee industry has a relatively high level of supply chain transparency, so you can find out where your favorite blend is coming from, who is making it, and who benefits from its production. When in doubt, one way to ensure your coffee was produced ethically and sustainably is to look for certification labels like Fair Trade or UTZ on the packaging.
The great thing about shifting to a more conscious coffee habit is that it doesn’t require adding a new expense to your routine. All you need to do is switch to a roaster that aligns with your values. The average American drinks 1,095 cups of coffee per year, and each cup you enjoy stands to help improve the lives of those who produce it!
One simple way to make a difference is to start buying your daily brew from an ethical roaster near you. But if you aren’t sure where to find one, below are some of Jane’s favorites. Each of these roasters is dedicated to making the world a better place through fair supply chain processes, and in some cases, donating to causes that matter to them.
Making the world a better place doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Sometimes it’s as simple as a daily morning habit. So take a sip and celebrate International Coffee Day!
