Retailers show growing demand for sustainable products

An International Trade Center (ITC) survey has revealed that European retailers from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain are showing increased demand for sustainably sourced products. “Consumers increasingly seek products that reflect ethical treatment of workers and are environmentally conscious, as we know from previous surveys,” the ITC’s Arancha González says. González adds therefore, retailers implement fair and sustainable trade criteria and apply sustainability standards to meet consumer demands, mitigate sustainability risks in their supply chains, and to avoid company reputational risks. According to the report, The European Union Market For Sustainable Products – The Retail Perspective on Sourcing Policies and Consumer Demand, producers who meet and implement those standards therefore do face an advantage towards their competitors who are not committed to sustainable production. “People of the EU want international trade to go hand-in-hand with social, economic and environmental sustainability,” says Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Trade. The Common Code for the Coffee Community (4C Services) says with its certification, independent third-party auditors ensure compliance with economic, social, and environmental criteria for coffee production and processing in order to establish credible sustainable coffee supply chains. 4C Services will discuss trade and end consumer market requirements, and the implementation of sustainability strategies of leading brand owners and traders, at its first 4C Global Sustainability Conference on 6 June 2019 in Berlin, Germany. For more information, click here. Global Coffee Report has launched a LinkedIn Showcase page. Follow HERE for up-to-date news and analysis of the global coffee industry.