The green alliance

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.

Check the website here. Everything from valentines roses, chocolates, coffees, sustainable agriculture, tourism, climate control. If its got the rainforest alliance stamp, rest assured your doing your bit. It seems to have worked for Maccas…

COFFEE sales at McDonald’s have jumped 20 per cent since it started selling environmentally friendly coffee last year – proof that good deeds are rewarded with higher sales.

In May the fast food chain switched the coffee in its McCafe stores to beans from South American plantations certified by the New York environmental organisation, Rainforest Alliance.

But I find it interesting that:

The market for “ethical coffee” is heating up. Last year BP switched to Fairtrade coffee, which guarantees a minimum price per kilogram to growers. Alliance ensures coffee plantations adhere to strict environmental standards but stops short of guaranteeing wages.

That article is a little old, but it still gives some food for thought…

Visit the article.