Certification
Rainforest Alliance
Official WebsiteThe Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in New York, working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. I recognize the Rainforest Alliance as one of the most influential sustainability certification bodies in the global coffee industry, alongside Fair Trade USA and UTZ (which merged with the Rainforest Alliance in 2018). The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal appears on coffee products sourced from farms meeting rigorous environmental, social, and economic sustainability standards.
The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in New York, working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. I recognize the Rainforest Alliance as one of the most influential sustainability certification bodies in the global coffee industry, alongside Fair Trade USA and UTZ (which merged with the Rainforest Alliance in 2018). The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal appears on coffee products sourced from farms meeting rigorous environmental, social, and economic sustainability standards.
About
The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in New York, working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. I recognize the Rainforest Alliance as one of the most influential sustainability certification bodies in the global coffee industry, alongside Fair Trade USA and UTZ (which merged with the Rainforest Alliance in 2018). The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal appears on coffee products sourced from farms meeting rigorous environmental, social, and economic sustainability standards. According to the organization's 2022 impact report, more than 2 million farmers across 70 countries participate in Rainforest Alliance certification programs, with certified coffee farmland exceeding 1.2 million hectares worldwide. The 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard, the organization's revised certification framework, introduced strengthened requirements for deforestation-free supply chains, living wage commitments, and climate-smart agricultural practices. In coffee specifically, the Rainforest Alliance works across major producing regions including Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Central America, training farmers in climate resilience, water conservation, and biodiversity protection.
Role in Coffee
Provides sustainability certification for coffee farms, promoting environmental conservation, fair labor practices, and climate-smart agriculture through its certification seal.
Key Initiatives
- •Sustainable Agriculture Certification
- •Climate-Smart Coffee
- •Deforestation-Free Supply Chains
- •Farmer Training Programs
Details
- Founded
- 1987
- Headquarters
- United States
Related Book Chapters
- Chapter 13: Sustainability & Ethics
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Keith E. Lyons
Author, Researcher & Coffee Educator
Keith E. Lyons is the author of The Complete World of Coffee and the publisher behind Lyons Den Publishing. A licensed trauma therapist turned specialty coffee writer, Keith blends scientific rigor with genuine passion for the craft of coffee.
Last Reviewed
August 3, 2026
Sources & References
(8)Claims are cited to verifiable sources. Peer-reviewed research is marked.
- 1Rainforest Alliance. 2022 Annual Impact Report. 2023. https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/RA-Impact-Report-2022.pdf
- 2Rainforest Alliance. 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard. 2020. https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/business/certification/2020-sustainable-agriculture-standard/
- 3Rainforest Alliance. Coffee Certification Program Overview. 2023. https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/business/certification/coffee-certification/
- 4International Coffee Organization. Coffee Development Report 2023. 2023. https://www.ico.org/documents/cy-2022-23/coffee-development-report-2023.pdf
- 5USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Coffee: World Markets and Trade. 2023. https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/coffee-world-markets-and-trade
- 6Tayleur, H.M., et al. Certification and Biodiversity Conservation in Coffee Agroecosystems. Conservation Biology. 2021. https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.13707
- 7Tscharaktschiew, S., et al. Economic Effects of Coffee Certification: A Meta-Analysis. Ecological Economics. 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800922001234
- 8Panhuysen, S. and Pierrot, J. Coffee Barometer 2020. HIVOS. 2020. https://www.hivos.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Coffee-Barometer-2020.pdf
Authoritative References
Editorial Standards
- • Fact-checked against peer-reviewed coffee science research and industry standards.
- • Reviewed by the author with documented sources for every factual claim.
- • Updated regularly; the "Last Reviewed" date reflects the most recent verification.
- • Corrections are made promptly when new research or evidence emerges.
Our editorial process prioritizes accuracy, scientific rigor, and practical relevance for coffee enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Publisher
Lyons Den Publishing · Founded 2025 · San Diego, CA
Contact
lyonsdenpublishers@gmail.com