BERN, Switzerland – The Swiss Sustainable Coffee Platform (SSCP) was launched in Bern on 6 June 2024 with the participation of Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin. Its aim is to join forces to improve sustainability in the coffee sector. This is a multi-stakeholder initiative by the Swiss coffee industry, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), civil society and academia.
Switzerland is the world’s largest coffee trading hub, accounting for over 50% of the total volume of global coffee exports. It is also one of the largest exporters of roasted coffee. From this privileged position, Switzerland intends to shoulder responsibility by getting the main market stakeholders to work together to achieve results across national borders. The challenges are daunting: from ensuring a decent income for farmers to tackling climate change and protecting human rights.
Better living conditions for coffee producers
The underlying reasons for these challenges are diverse and can only be addressed through concerted action. With this in mind, an umbrella organisation, the Community of Interest Coffee Switzerland, was formed to bring together Switzerland’s main associations in the coffee market (i.e. Swiss Coffee Trade Association, Procafé and the Swiss Roaster Guild).
These partners have now launched the Swiss Sustainable Coffee Platform (SSCP) in conjunction with SECO, Swiss non-governmental organisations and members of the Swiss research community.
Having signed a Declaration of Intent, these stakeholders have marked their firm commitment to ensuring that the coffee sector will uphold human rights, protect the climate and the environment and adhere to coffee procurement sustainability principles. This initiative should result in improved living conditions for coffee producers and their families.
Cooperation with all relevant Swiss stakeholders
‘Both the Swiss Coffee Trade Association and our member companies have been calling for greater sustainability in the coffee value chain for years,’ stated SCTA President, Nicolas A. Tamari. ‘However, a lot of work remains to be done. We are convinced that this platform is the right path to taking shared responsibility.’ Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin added:
‘Our economic cooperation activities will have a much greater impact in partner countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Peru if there is closer collaboration with the Swiss private sector. The Swiss Sustainable Coffee Platform will allow our companies to greatly improve compliance with due diligence requirements across their value chains’.
