A Shared Responsibility for a Sustainable Future 

Coffee is one of seven raw materials identified by the EU as major contributors to global deforestation. To address this, the EU introduced the Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) in June 2023. This legislation places clear responsibilities on EU companies to ensure that coffee, along with soy, palm oil, cocoa, natural rubber, cattle, and timber, is deforestation-free and produced in compliance with local laws. 

The EUDR’s goals are ambitious: tackling deforestation and supporting adherence to local laws, where enforcement often lags. It also highlights poverty as a root cause of deforestation, encouraging higher prices for farmers—an essential point often overlooked in technical discussions. 

Meeting EUDR requirements creates short-term costs for farmers, such as documenting compliance, and long-term constraints by limiting land expansion. This mirrors Denmark’s own history, where deforestation was curtailed 200 years ago under Fredskovsordningen. However, unlike Denmark, many coffee-producing countries lack alternative growth opportunities, underscoring the need for meaningful compensation. 

At Coffee Collective, we’ve been in dialogue with our producer partners for years to share the burden of EUDR compliance. We are committed to raising prices for farmers and offering tailored support, particularly for smallholders who face the greatest challenges. 

One major risk is that EUDR may marginalize smallholders, as buyers could shift to larger producers perceived as easier to work with. This could be a tragedy for many small holders who don’t have alternative ways of creating income. But we also believe smallholders are vital to the coffee industry’s resilience and are investing in tools and resources to help them succeed. 

The EUDR represents a significant opportunity to address deforestation and support sustainability. By working together—companies, governments, and consumers—we can ensure the regulation drives meaningful change for farmers, the environment, and the future of coffee.