Equipping farmers with sustainable solutions and practices to build a more resilient coffee industry.
Raíz Sustainability™ (Raíz) is our holistic approach to empowering farmers through sustainable agricultural practices and long-term support. Together, we’re fostering a more resilient coffee industry that benefits everyone involved.
Raíz was created by Westrock Coffee to root farm profitability, sustainable agriculture, fair labor practices, and equitable supply chains. Ethical, resilient supply is just the starting point; Raíz provides farmers financial security while working on real, long-term agribusiness viability from farm to finished product.
Raíz is a collaborative platform in which every stakeholder plays a valuable role in bringing sustainable solutions and affordable coffee to consumers.
Farmers
Over 3,000 Raíz farmer partners across Latin America are committed to sustainable farming solutions and practices. These men and women carefully steward the coffee fields that sustain their families and employees while actively conserving the surrounding forests and streams. Raíz farmer partners commit and comply with the 3rd-party audited social, environmental, and economic standards of Raíz Sustainability™.
Suppliers
Export partners in six origins provide Raíz farmer partners with year-round training, market access, and on-farm advisory services. These programs enhance business skills, farm economics, climate resilience, and uphold the social equity and human rights standards of Raíz Sustainability™.
Westrock Coffee
We manage Raíz improvement goals, compliance audits, coffee quality standards from farm to final packaging, and serve as the bridge between farmers and customers.
Customers
Sustainable supply is made possible by Westrock Coffee’s customers. Every pound of Raíz coffee purchased by our customers is a vote for transformative environmental practices, fair compensation for farmers and workers, and safe, equitable workplaces from Raíz farms to Westrock’s roasters.
Consumers
Transparency is driven by consumers who want to connect their product to the people who grew it. Raíz is that bridge.
Raíz started in 2015. Many farmers who registered in the program were not part of a certification program and were not applying consistent, sustainable farming practices. This consistency has led to long-term impactful relationships, 77% of Raíz’s active farmers joined in 2016 or earlier, and all farmers apply sustainable agriculture techniques across their entire farms. Many of their farms have multiple third-party certifications, and Raíz farmers are seen as sustainable business leaders in their communities.
Farmers and farm workers who participated in Raíz benefits.
Of Raíz farmland reserved for conservation.
Higher yield per hectare than non-Raíz farms.
Coffee and shade trees planted.
A farmers journey in Raíz Sustainability™ begins with their commitment to uphold the Raíz standard, which establishes mandatory requirements for farmers and Westrock Coffee’s supply partners in four key areas: social, environmental, economic, and traceability.
The standard also establishes continuous improvement opportunities that farms should add over time. Every year, a sample of farms is audited by an accredited 3rd-party auditing agency to ensure farms are 100% compliant with mandatory requirements and to measure their progress in continuous improvement areas.
