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Certification deep-dive

Rainforest Alliance

Standard for farms and forests on biodiversity, livelihoods and supply-chain traceability.

What it is

Following the 2018 merger with UTZ, the Rainforest Alliance certifies coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, palm oil and forest products against a 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard covering biodiversity conservation, water and soil management, worker wages and conditions, and climate-smart practices.

How it's verified

Independent third-party auditors visit certified farms and supply chains annually. The 2020 standard introduced mass-balance and segregation chain-of-custody options, plus 'data-based assurance' using risk profiling.

What to look for

The small green tree-frog logo. Look for additional fine print indicating ingredient percentages and chain-of-custody method (Identity Preserved, Segregated or Mass Balance).

Watch out for

A mass-balance product can carry the seal even if its physical contents are not certified — the seal indicates an equivalent volume was sourced from certified farms.

What it doesn't cover

Rainforest Alliance does not guarantee organic farming — synthetic pesticides are restricted but not banned. Its labour standard is below Fair Trade for minimum prices.

Frequently asked

Is Rainforest Alliance better than Fair Trade?+

They are complementary. Rainforest Alliance emphasises ecological and biodiversity criteria; Fair Trade emphasises minimum prices and community premiums. Best-in-class products often hold both.

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