UAE's homegrown brand Coffee Planet has been awarded the international UTZ certification to roast and distribute UTZ Certified coffees, which is the first of such certifications for a facility in the Middle East region and the only in UAE.
The UTZ programme supports coffee farmers and farm workers directly, in learning better farming methods and improving their working conditions to grow better crops, generate more income and create better opportunities; whilst also supporting education and healthcare for their children as well as safeguarding the environment and securing the earth’s natural resources through the program.
Coffee Planet managing director Robert Jones said: “Being awarded the UTZ certification is a great achievement for us and a program we are proud to support."
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Having always sourced 100% Arabica specialty graded coffee, Jones added: "Always striving for the best quality coffee, we also strive to be as ethical as possible by buying direct and supporting our coffee-producing partners all around the world through sustainable practices implemented by the UTZ program. By supporting individual farmers and their families, UTZ goes quite a few steps further in ensuring companies are operating fairly, resulting in the very best coffee for all."
The certification process took several months to be completed as specific chain of custody practices and codes of conduct and operation had to be implemented to meet the requirement of the UTZ programme.
Regulated by independent third parties, criteria for the certification is covered in the UTZ Codes of Conduct that consist of product-specific standards, as well as chain of custody standards at the Coffee Planet Roastery.
This thorough certification system assures good agricultural practices and management, safe and healthy working conditions; no child labor and protection of the environment standards are implemented at UTZ certified coffee farms.
To achieve UTZ certification, producers must also comply with the economic, social and environmental criteria set out in the Codes of Conduct.
The UTZ certification follows news that Coffee Planet has partnered with Jumbo supermarkets in Holland to distribute coffee to 375 of its stores throughout the country.
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