• Where can I buy Douwe Egberts Good Origin?
  Douwe Egberts Good Origin is currently available in Waitrose stores across the UK.

• Does all your coffee packaging include the Utz Kapeh certified logo?
  Our Douwe Egberts Good Origin packaging bears the Utz Kapeh logo as this blend contains 100% Utz Kapeh certified coffee. Our other brands and packaging do not bear the logo as this can only be used on packaging when the blend contains almost exclusively Utz Kapeh certified coffee. 

• Which of your coffee brands contain Utz Kapeh certified coffee?
  Douwe Egberts Good Origin coffees are made from 100% Utz Kapeh certified coffee. Other Douwe Egberts blends currently contain some Utz Kapeh certified coffee and we are committed to increasing these percentages over time. Our ultimate aim is to be able to offer 100% sustainable coffee in all of our products.

• Why doesn’t Douwe Egberts sell only 100% Utz Kapeh certified coffee?
  Using 100% Utz Kapeh certified coffee across our entire range would be the ideal situation. The coffee sector is a complex one however and we recognize that it will take time for us to implement a 100% sustainable coffee production line where we can source quality coffee in the quantities we need.

• I want to feel good about the coffee I buy but will it still taste good?
  All our Good Origin blends have been carefully selected and roasted by our coffee experts to give you the same great coffee experience you expect from Douwe Egberts. There is no compromise on taste – only the finest beans are used for a full, distinct flavour. With Douwe Egberts Good Origin, you can be assured of a great tasting coffee and comforted by the fact that it has been grown and produced in a responsible way that has benefited the farmer and his or her local environment.

• What is your view on sustainability within the coffee sector?
  Coffee is the world’s second most important export for developing countries after crude oil. More than 100 million people worldwide make their living from coffee production and as one of the world’s leading coffee roasters we take that responsibility very seriously. As part of Sara Lee International, our ultimate aim is to move to 100% sustainability for all our coffee sourcing and production over time. We recognise that this is a complex issue and will take time which is why we are committed to a long-term plan.

• Why are you now opting for a sustainable approach to producing coffee?
  More sustainability in the coffee sector will result in buyers getting a better product, farmers being able to negotiate a better price and longer-term commercial relationships. It is in everyone’s interest to implement best practices and to become more efficient in their production. Of course there is also self-interest involved: we have a responsibility to all our stakeholders, ranging from our employees and consumers to our customers and suppliers. In order to achieve continuity for our business, we need to establish a long-term sustainable coffee chain. 

• Why have you partnered with Utz Kapeh and not one of the other ethical certification organizations like Fairtrade?
  We applaud initiatives that provide realistic tools to include the concept of sustainability into the mainstream coffee market, like fairtrade.  Since 2004, we have maintained a good relationship with Utz Kapeh, a global non governmental organisation which operates a mainstream certification programme for sustainable coffee based on pillars of economic, social and environmental well being. Utz Kapeh is about traceability and recognition of responsible production. It has its roots in coffee producers and roasters looking for a way to demonstrate their environmentally, socially and economically responsible agricultural practices. Utz Kapeh operates a Code of Conduct with a single focus on mainstream coffee, competitive brands and professional producers. Working with them not only gives us the opportunity to offer coffee that has been grown and produced responsibly but it also allows us to operate within a framework that accommodates all producers whether large or small.

• Do you guarantee the farmer a better price?
  We pay a standard fee per pound of certified coffee to the Utz Kapeh Foundation for their services. With joining the Utz Kapeh initiative, we follow the ‘better price for a better product’ principle. Sustainability in production and coffee quality has a market value, which means that with our certification programme, we are enabling farmers to negotiate a better price with the buyer. For this reason, Utz Kapeh does not impose a premium.  When you choose Douwe Egberts Good Origin you contribute to the further success of the Utz Kapeh programme, meaning that we can continue to offer coffee that was produced with care for people and the environment in which they work.

• What other steps are you taking to promote sustainability in the coffee sector?
  In addition to our ongoing partnership with Utz Kapeh, we also actively participate in the Common Code for the Coffee Community (4C) steering committee and contribute to the development and implementation of the 4C which is a joint effort by all stakeholders in the coffee sector. It sets base-level standards for the production, processing and trading of mainstream green coffee. The code aims at ensuring a decent standard of living for all in the coffee chain and the protection of the environment.

Both Utz Kapeh and 4C are initiatives that are fully consistent with our philosophy regarding Corporate Social Responsibility, which is to improve the standard of living of those we touch as a company in balance with our economic, social and environmental responsibilities.

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