December 18, 2024
Global Coffee Platform acknowledges Raíz as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code
Little Rock, Ark., December 18, 2024 — Westrock Coffee proudly announces that its Raíz Sustainability™ initiative has been recognized by the Global Coffee Platform (GCP) as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code (Coffee SR Code) under the 2nd party assurance category. This prestigious recognition underscores Westrock Coffee’s commitment to advancing sustainability within the coffee supply chain.
“We are thrilled to receive GCP’s recognition,” said Brooke Cantrell, Vice President–Sustainability, for Westrock Coffee Company. “Raíz Sustainability™ exemplifies our vision for a sustainable future in the coffee industry. This recognition reinforces our commitment to providing farmers the support they need on their sustainability journeys and allows us to join a collective of GCP recognized programs that are driving sustainable change in our industry.”
The Coffee SR Code was developed to align the coffee sector on essential sustainability practices and principles by addressing economic, social, and environmental dimensions of coffee production. By completing GCP’s Equivalence Mechanism Process, Westrock’s Raíz initiative demonstrates that it adheres to recognized practices and principles on par with the Coffee SR Code.
GCP’s Equivalence Mechanism involves a comprehensive assessment against operational criteria to ensure that Raíz and other sustainability schemes are credible and effective. These criteria focus on governance, standard-setting, assurance, data management, and claims requirements. GCP collaborates with the International Trade Centre (ITC) to maintain the integrity of this process.
“We believe that the recognition of Raíz as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code, 2nd party assurance, represents a significant step not only for Westrock Coffee but for our customers and our farmer partners who collaborate with us,” added Cantrell. “By aligning with the GCP’s Coffee SR Code, Raíz’s boots-on-the-ground approach to sustainable supply is coupled with an industry-wide reference standard.”
The acknowledgment of Raíz adds to the growing list of sustainability initiatives recognized by GCP, fostering a unified approach to sustainability in the coffee sector. As one of GCP’s recognized programs, Westrock Coffee’s Raíz Sustainability initiative exemplifies the company’s dedication to transparency and collaboration in improving sustainability across the coffee supply chain.
Westrock Coffee remains committed to upholding and promoting sustainability principles, ensuring that responsible practices are effectively integrated into its sourcing processes.
For more information about Westrock Coffee and its Raíz Sustainability™ initiative, please visit westrockcoffee.com
About Westrock Coffee Company
Westrock Coffee is a leading integrated coffee, tea, flavors, extracts, and ingredients solutions provider in the U.S., providing coffee sourcing, supply chain management, product development, roasting, packaging, and distribution services to the retail, foodservice and restaurant, convenience store and travel center, CPG, non-commercial, and hospitality industries around the world. With offices in 10 countries, the Company sources coffee and tea from 35 origin countries. For more information, please visit WestrockCoffee.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended from time to time. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to ensure that sustainable and responsible practices are effectively integrated into our sourcing processes, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on information available to Westrock Coffee as of the date hereof and Westrock Coffee is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this communication to conform these statements to actual results. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication, and on the current expectations of the management of Westrock Coffee as of the date hereof and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and should not be relied on by an investor, or others, as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Westrock Coffee. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Westrock Coffee; risks related to the rollout of Westrock Coffee’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on Westrock Coffee’s business; the ability of Westrock Coffee to issue equity or equity-linked securities or obtain debt financing in the future; the risk that Westrock Coffee fails to fully realize the potential benefits of acquisitions or joint ventures or has difficulty successfully integrating acquired companies; the availability of equipment and the timely performance by suppliers involved with the build-out of the Conway, Arkansas extract and ready-to-drink facility; the loss of significant customers or delays in bringing their products to market; and those factors discussed in Westrock Coffee’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 15, 2024, in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” and other documents Westrock Coffee has filed, or will file, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Westrock Coffee does not presently know, or that Westrock Coffee currently believes are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements reflect Westrock Coffee’s expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Westrock Coffee anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Westrock Coffee’s assessments to change. However, while Westrock Coffee may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Westrock Coffee specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a representation of Westrock Coffee’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.