UL STR is pleased to announce that we are now provisionally approved for work as a verification organization in Mexico and Indonesia for the Starbucks Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices program. Developed in collaboration with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), the C.A.F.E. Practices program is a guideline for sourcing high-quality green coffee that is grown sustainably.

As recognized service providers, UL STR Mexico and Indonesia are now qualified to conduct verification audits of coffee suppliers within their respective countries. To be eligible to participate in the assessments, select UL STR auditors had to first successfully participate in a two day training course held by SCS. The Starbucks program differs from other client specific programs in that it is agriculture based and measures suppliers against defined criteria in three different areas: economic, social and environmental. In addition, the full supplier network of the producers is assessed from coffee production to green coffee so our auditors could soon be visiting coffee plantations and wet and dry mills as part of the same project!

After completion of 3 supply chain audits within a 6 month period, both UL STR offices will participate in a formal evaluation and will be granted fully approved status in the program pending a favorable decision by SCS.

For more information about Starbucks C.A.F.E. Practices program and associated verification activities, please see:

http://www.scscertified.com/csr/starbucks_documents.html

For more information on UL STR Responsible Sourcing Services, please write to us at info@strrs.com.