NKG Verified recognized as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code, 2nd party assurance

29. März 2023

Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG) participated in the Equivalence Mechanism 2.0 with NKG Verified, its program for sustainable coffee supplies to green buyers, which was recognized by the Global Coffee Platform (GCP) as Coffee Sustainability Reference Code equivalent, 2nd party assurance.

Hamburg, Germany; March 29, 2023: With the recognition, NKG Verified provides additional assurance to customers interested in purchasing NKG Verified coffees under sustainable sourcing practices supported by a program that meets the GCP Equivalence Mechanism sustainability and operational requirements with transparency and rigor. Likewise, NKG Verified is now eligible for GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases by roasters and retailers.

The Coffee Sustainability Reference Code is a common framework created by the GCP to foster better understanding of the principles that support baseline sustainable production and offers a common language for the various stakeholders in the coffee sector to advance their sustainability efforts.

Carolin Ehrensperger, Head of Sustainable Business Unit at NKG: “We are very proud to have reached this significant milestone with NKG Verified. Finding solutions that both the customer and producers benefit from is our key intention. We trust that the recognition will help us to increase the footprint of the amazing work our field teams and participating producers do every day to improve their sustainability performance.” 

NKG Verified improves transparency along the supply chain for green coffee buyers by providing insights into the performance of the farms producing their coffees and offering sustainability assurance through internal and third-party audits from farm to export level. NKG Verified aligns with industry standards and integrates easily into customers’ sustainability plans. The program is open to specific customer requirements​. With every shipment of NKG Verified coffees, customers receive an easy-to-read sustainability report detailing each indicator and how it scored, as well as the coffee’s overall sustainability score. NKG Verified aligns with and contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that support economic growth through decent working conditions and responsible production.

NKG Verified was first launched in Brazil in 2021, when group company NKG Stockler implemented the program. As of December 2022, NKG Verified has reached 12,958 farmers in Mexico, India, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia and Brazil. NKG will continue to expand its supply chains in 2023.

Previously, in 2021, NKG Bloom, the company’s program for sustainable livelihoods, was considered as equivalent under the Equivalence Mechanism 1.2 and is recognized by GCP as Baseline Coffee Code Equivalent 2nd party.

Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG) is a globally operating green coffee service group, focusing on coffee only. In more than 50 companies in 26 countries, more than 3,000 highly skilled employees are active in the sectors Export & Milling, Import, Farming, Agents & Representative Offices, and Services. 

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