Cooperating With “Open Cards”—The Role of Small Intermediary Businesses in Realizing Sustainable International Coffee Supply

Abstract

Despite improvements, international food supply in general and coffee supply in particular continue to cause significant greenhouse gas emissions, economic inequities, and negative impacts on human well-being. There is agreement that dominant economic paradigms need to change to comply with the sustainability principles of environmental integrity, economic resilience, and social equity. However, so far, little empirical evidence has been generated to what extent and under which conditions sustainable international coffee supply could be realized through small intermediary businesses such as roasteries, breweries, and/or retailers. This case study reports on a collaborative project between a small coffee brewery and its customers in the U.S. and a small coffee roastery and its suppliers in Mexico that demonstrates how sustainable coffee supply could look like and explores under which conditions it can be realized. A research team facilitated the cooperation using a transdisciplinary research approach, including field visits and stakeholder workshops. The project (i) assessed the sustainability challenges of the current supply and value chains; (ii) developed a vision of a joint sustainable coffee supply chain; (iii) build a strategy to achieve this vision, and (iv) piloted the implementation of the strategy. We discuss the project results against the conditions for sustainable international coffee supply offered in the literature (why they were fulfilled, or not). Overall, the study suggests that small intermediary coffee businesses might have the potential to infuse sustainability across their supply chain if cooperating with “open cards.” The findings confirm some and add some conditions, including economic resilience through cooperation, problem recognition, transparency, trust, and solidarity across the supply chain. The study concludes with reflections on study limitations and future research needs.

Sustainable agrifood systems for a post-growth world

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Sustainable coffee: A review of the diverse initiatives and governance dimensions of global coffee supply chains

“…This approach is also being used by retailers and roasters who wish to better understand and address risks in their supply, as well as a broader recognition of addressing environmental impacts of commodity products. There are now many examples of similar producer-level support and engagement initiatives from coffee roasters around the world (Weber and Wiek 2021 ). Improved knowledge of how the relationship coffee model can drive sustainability transitions is required, particularly during these initial stages of its development.…”

Can B Corp certification anchor sustainability in SMEs?

“…Following the BIA process, we used visioning to conceptualize a desirable future state or set a complex goal (vision) that is informed by sustainable principles and practices (Wiek & Iwaniec, 2014) and gain rich insights into the process of change promoted by the adoption of the BIA. Visions can help companies to stimulate change and advance their sustainable practices (Weber & Wiek, 2021). While the BIA creates a baseline (push factor), a vision creates a positive orientation to strive towards (pull factor).…”

“…Visions can help companies to stimulate change and advance their sustainable practices (Weber & Wiek, 2021). While the BIA creates a baseline (push factor), a vision creates a positive orientation to strive towards (pull factor).…”