OUGD503 - YCN - Research: Certification

OUGD503 - Studio Brief 1/Individual Practice 

Research: Certification

Grand cafe is fully certified however to gain a deeper understanding of what this means one should research the certification of this coffee to understand how this benefits the plantations and workers, with this critical understanding certified coffee, the designer can then better visually communicate this throughout the resolution to the brief. The thee certifications of Grand Cafe's blends are the Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade, and SOIL Association Organic. These charities all work on different areas of sustainable production and their standardising process ensures quality and the product meets their ethical ethos. 

Rainforest Alliance: 

The Rainforest Alliance is a non-governmental organisation working to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behaviour. Agricultural expansion is responsible for 70 percent of global deforestation, and is the single greatest threat to tropical forests. In these biodiversity-rich regions, farms are often responsible for soil erosion, water pollution and wildlife habitat destruction. Rainforest Alliance certification encourages farmers to grow crops and manage ranchlands sustainably. Because our certification system is built on the three pillars of sustainability;  environmental protection, social equity and economic viability. No single pillar can support long-term success on its own, we help farmers improve in all three areas.

Fair Trade:

Fairtrade is a movement for change that works directly with businesses, consumers and campaigners to make trade deliver for farmers and workers. The international Fairtrade system represents the world's largest and most recognised fair trade system that works as a global organisation to secure a better deal for farmers and workers. Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers. It’s about supporting the development of thriving farming and worker communities that have more control over their futures and protecting the environment in which they live and work. 

Members of the movement advocate the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as improved social and environmental standards. The movement focuses in particular on commodities, or products which are typically exported from developing countries to developed countries  but also consumed in domestic markets. 

SOIL Association Organic: 

Soil Association Certification is the UK's largest organic certification body, responsible for certifying over 70% of all organic products sold in the country. We certify organic food and farming, organic textiles and organic beauty products. Since 1973 our team has built up extensive practical experience and provide unrivalled support before, during and after certification.Its activities include campaign work on issues including opposition to intensive farming, support for local purchasing and public education on nutrition; as well the certification of organic food. 

The Soil Association organic logo on pack is the most recognised in the UK and your customer's guarantee that your produce meets the highest standards of sustainability and quality.The Soil Association charity wrote some of the world’s first organic standards, long before the EU organic regulations were drafted. Soil Association Certification is the wholly owned certification body of the Soil Association charity and we have been certifying since 1973 and are the largest UK organic certification body.