Below you can read the answers to the frequently asked questions about UTZ CERTIFIED. Is your question not here? Don't hesitate to contact us at info@utzcertified.org.
UTZ CERTIFIED is a world-wide coffee certification program. (UTZ means "good" in a Mayan language). UTZ CERTIFIED's mission is to set the world standard for socially and environmentally responsible coffee production and sourcing. The UTZ CERTIFIED program answers two important questions:
UTZ CERTIFIED coffee is traceable from producer to roaster. UTZ CERTIFIED uses two elements to create traceability:
Web-based traceability system:
When an UTZ CERTIFIED coffee producer sells his coffee to a registered UTZ CERTIFIED buyer, the coffee is announced in the UTZ CERTIFIED web-based system. UTZ CERTIFIED assigns a unique tracking number to this lot of coffee. This unique UTZ CERTIFIED number travels with the coffee through the whole coffee chain. At the end of the coffee chain, the roaster uses the unique tracking number to know where his coffee was grown. Some brands even use this unique tracking system to make the coffee traceable for their consumers.
Chain of Custody:
To enhance the guarantee that coffee with an UTZ CERTIFIED logo indeed comes from an UTZ CERTIFIED producer, the UTZ CERTIFIED program contains Chain of Custody requirements. This is a set of chain-wide administrative and technical requirements for traceability. These requirements include criteria for separation of UTZ CERTIFIED coffee and non-UTZ CERTIFIED coffee, and keeping records of direct suppliers and buyers.
UTZ CERTIFIED coffee has been produced according to the criteria of the UTZ CERTIFIED Code of Conduct. Coffee producers are UTZ CERTIFIED when an independent certifier approved by UTZ CERTIFIED determines that the coffee grower is in compliance with the requirements of the UTZ CERTIFIED Code of Conduct. This inspection is repeated annually.
The UTZ CERTIFIED Code of Conduct is an internationally recognized set of criteria for economic, social and environmental responsible coffee production. It is based on the international ILO standards and the EurepGap protocol for good agricultural practices for fruit and vegetables. It includes elements such as:
Good coffee no longer just means good taste, quality and price; today's consumers also demand it to be made with care for people and the environment. And they expect their roasters to be able to assure them of responsible production (e.g. appropriate and modest use of fertilizers and pesticides, coffee farmers' children sent to school rather than put to work, farm workers given decent housing, healthcare and training, farmers empowered to act as professionals, with access to market information and relationships with their buyers)
The UTZ CERTIFIED system allows farmers to show that they operate responsibly -according to strict social and environmental standards-. UTZ CERTIFIED provides roasters with the assurance of responsible coffee production and provides opportunities to credibly demonstrate this to their consumers.
With an UTZ certification coffee growers of all sizes and origins can demonstrate good agricultural practices, efficient farming and responsible production of their coffee. The UTZ CERTIFIED program helps growers to be more professional and competitive in producing and selling their coffees. In addition, UTZ CERTIFIED gives growers access to new markets because roasters and brands around the world are increasingly demanding UTZ CERTIFIED coffee.
The UTZ CERTIFIED program gives access to an international network of coffee growers, support programs (of buyers and NGO's), and technical assistance and coaching from UTZ CERTIFIED trained agronomists and UTZ CERTIFIED field representatives.
TIP: Read what UTZ CERTIFIED producers say about the added value of UTZ CERTIFIED for them
UTZ CERTIFIED provides the assurance of responsible production that coffee drinkers expect from their brand. UTZ CERTIFIED is the first program that enables all coffee brands to incorporate and credibly demonstrate socially and environmentally responsible business practices in their entire product range.
TIP: Read what UTZ CERTIFIED buyers say about the added value of UTZ CERTIFIED for them
UTZ CERTIFIED sets the standard for socially and environmentally responsible coffee production. UTZ CERTIFIED is about shared responsibility for a sustainable coffee sector:
Coffee with an UTZ certification has extra value; it has been produced according to the standard for responsible coffee production. An UTZ certification empowers coffee growers to negotiate a better price for their product. Buyers recognize this extra value by paying coffee growers a price premium for UTZ CERTIFIED coffee.
The price for UTZ CERTIFIED certified coffee is determined in the negotiation process between buyer and seller. UTZ CERTIFIED does not interfere in price-negotiations.
Yes, UTZ CERTIFIED is an independent multi-stakeholder initiative:
As a consumer you can support UTZ CERTIFIED by:
Coffee roasters and consumers increasingly want to know where their coffee comes from and how it was produced. Certification is a useful tool to assure the origin of coffee. Fairtrade and UTZ CERTIFIED are two leading programs, but they have different aims and principles. UTZ CERTIFIED and Fairtrade are complementary in the coffee market and jointly work towards more sustainability in coffee.
UTZ CERTIFIED sets the world mainstream standard for socially and environmentally responsible coffee production. It provides the assurance of responsible coffee production that consumers expect from their brand. UTZ CERTIFIED helps coffee growers to be more professional and competitive in production and selling, and it enables coffee brands to incorporate and credibly demonstrate responsibility in their entire product range.
Fairtrade / Max Havelaar is an organization with a developmental mission: it contributes to the development of disadvantaged small coffee producers. UTZ CERTIFIED recognizes the important role that Fairtrade and Max Havelaar have played in creating consumer awareness about the issues in the coffee industry. Visit www.fairtrade.net and www.maxhavelaar.nl for more information.
TIP: UTZ CERTIFIED and Fairtrade explanation document
Fairtrade and UTZ CERTIFIED have jointly published an overview of both programs to provide insight to our work, explain our different approaches and help consumers to make the choice that best matches their needs. Read this document
UTZ CERTIFIED participates as an observing (non-voting) member in the steering group of the Common Code of the Coffee Community (CCCC, or 4C) initiative. We recognize the 4C as an initiative with a similar mainstream mission: to implement a world wide decency standard for responsible coffee production. We welcome their efforts to make the coffee sector more sustainable. Visit http://www.sustainable-coffee.net for more information about the 4C.