The Global Coffee Platform recorded its highest level of participation in collective sustainability reporting, with 14 coffee roasters and retailers contributing to the Sustainable Coffee Purchases Report 2025. The list includes JDE Peet’s, Julius Meinl, Keurig Dr Pepper, LIDL, Melitta Group, Mother Parkers, Nestle, NewCoffee, Ringtons, Supracafe, Taylors of Harrogate, TESCO, UCC and Westrock Coffee Company. Despite this record engagement, reported sustainable coffee purchase volumes declined for the first time since the initiative began eight years ago. I view this divergence as a clear warning that administrative commitment does not equal market reality. The sector now faces pressure from market volatility, climate-related challenges and evolving regulatory requirements, making accurate measurement essential.
Volume Declines and Assurance Gaps
Volumes purchased through sustainability schemes with a Second-Party Assurance System fell by 26 per cent, while volumes sourced through schemes with a Third-Party Assurance System remained stable. This specific drop is significant because it isolates the failure within a particular verification tier rather than across the entire supply chain. For the first time, 13 sustainability scheme owners with a Second-Party Assurance System also reported transparently, providing estimates of farmers reached, production volumes and land covered. A total of 30 sustainability schemes were eligible for the 2025 reporting cycle. Changes in the composition of reporting companies compared with previous years influenced these overall results, so one must consider longer-term trends alongside annual figures. The report identifies sustainable coffee purchases as one of the sector’s most widely aligned indicators, yet it notes that purchase volumes alone cannot show whether initiatives are improving farmer livelihoods or strengthening supply chain resilience.
GCP Executive Director Annette Pensel states that greater collaboration across the coffee value chain is essential to building transparency and accountability. She says, "Progress needs continuous efforts from every actor in the coffee sector." The platform is currently reviewing the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code and the Operational Criteria of the Equivalence Mechanism based on stakeholder feedback calling for stronger evidence of what works. Revised tools are scheduled for publication in 2027, aiming to provide a foundation for collective action and investment in sustainable coffee production and the transition to RegenCoffee. A public webinar presenting these findings is set for Tuesday, 17 November 2026, at 09:00 EST, 11:00 BRT and 15:00 CET. I find the delay until 2027 concerning given the current volatility, but the new framework may finally address the gaps in current tracking methods.
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