Starting next year, all coffee sold at McDonald's in Australia will be certified sustainable by the Rainforest Alliance. The country's 484 so-called McCafés make 5,000 cups of joe per hour; Mickey D's pockets 20 percent of the more than $1 billion that Aussies spend on away-from-home coffee. The Rainforest Alliance certifies coffee farms that reduce pesticide use and treat farmers decently. Enthuses Catriona Noble, chief operating officer of McDonald's Australia, "For our customers, the decision means they can feel even better about the great tasting McCafé coffee they love, while for our business it marks another important step forward in realizing our commitment to sustainability and sustainable business practices."
source: The West Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Courier-Mail
see also, in Grist:A review of six Central American coffees
U.S. pushes for compromise in Copenhagen climate talks
Climate Citizen: Michael Pollan on agriculture and health care
Cautious optimism for Copenhagen deal as Barcelona climate talks end
Comments
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swag Posted 1:33 am
28 May 2008
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Jonas Posted 4:47 am
28 May 2008
I would never buy coffee certified by such a dubious organisation.
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Tasermons Partner Posted 7:33 am
28 May 2008
You're confused Jonas. The Rainforest Alliance's primary objective is to stop the expansion of palm oil plantations into rainforests, not "kill" the ones that're already there.
In th few areas where the Rainforest Alliance stopped expansion, or "took" plantations, they paid the farmers more than fair-market value for the land. And they only did it after the owners agreed.
The rainforest Allaince doesn't have imminent domain powers, ya know? (Though I sometimes wish they did)
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JBass Posted 4:57 am
03 Jun 2008
Jennifer Bass
Rainforest Alliance
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