The big coffee shop chains have performed poorly in the latest Ethical Consumer scorecard.
Costa propped up the new ethiscore table for coffee chains and brands, with just six points, with Nespresso (9) and Nestlé (9) also failing to register double digits. Starbucks managed 14 points out of a maximum 100, while Caffè Nero scored 23.
Equal Exchange (89) topped the table, with Source Climate Change (83) and Union Hand Roasted (83) closely behind.
In a separate scorecard for coffee shops, Boston Tea Party (62) came top with Greggs (48) in third. McDonald’s (5) was bottom, with Costa (7) and Starbucks (12) also in the bottom five.
Companies are scored based on a range of categories, including: climate, workers, tax conduct, animal agriculture (for coffee shops) Israel-Palestine, company ethos, coffee sourcing and agriculture.
Ethical Consumer unearthed issues relating to sourcing and production of coffee beans across some of the major brands. Pesticide use has for example increased 190% in the past decade in Brazil.
Companies scoring well have invested in organic as well as shade-grown coffee. “The majority of coffee’s carbon footprint, up to 90%, is generated before the coffee beans even leave the farm,” the report reads. “When conventionally produced, by some estimates coffee has the same carbon footprint as cheese, and half that of beef.” However, “there are more sustainable ways to grow and consume coffee”.
Some 20 additional marks were awarded to shade-grown coffee brands – with the beans growing under a canopy of trees, preserving biodiversity, improving soil health and prtevcenting deforestation. More trees also mean more carbon extraction. Yields can be lower but costs for fertilisers and pesticidces also fall, as does susceptibility of the crops to climate change.
