Defining and Certifying Sustainability in the Coffee and Tea Supply Chains

This chapter provides an overview on the definition of sustainability as it pertains to agriculture, as well as a background of frameworks for implementation that have emerged. A primary focus of this chapter is on the connection between sustainability in agriculture and sustainable business certifications including fair trade and organic. These certifications are described in detail to provide context for the case studies that follow. Here, we will explore the economic, social, and environmental spheres of sustainability in the coffee and tea industries. This chapter also includes a description of how sustainable business certifications such as fair trade and organic attempt to operationalize the pillars of sustainability in agriculture.