Sara Lee Coffee Blends Become More Sustainable

Sara Lee further increases its commitment to sustainable coffee as the company will buy 26,500 tons of certified coffee beans in 2009. That is approximately 30 percent more than in 2008 and a tenfold increase since the company formalized its sustainable sourcing commitment five years ago. Sara Lee is the world's third largest coffee roaster and sells its coffee blends under flagship brands such as Douwe Egberts, Senseo, Merrild, Maison du Cafe and Marcilla.

"Our commitment to sustainable sourcing is aimed at steady growth. Eventually, we want to buy only sustainably sourced coffee," says Stefanie Miltenburg, international CSR officer at Sara Lee. "Coffee is the world's second most traded commodity after oil, and to make a difference in sustainability as the world's third largest coffee roaster, you simply have to make an effort that involves the total sector. I am amazed at how much we have already achieved since we started our programs, and how much of a difference we have already made."

Sara Lee's sustainable coffee sourcing initiatives are aimed at creating a more sustainable mainstream coffee sector. Since 2004, all of Sara Lee's coffee brands have become increasingly sustainable as Sara Lee's UTZ certified coffee volumes have increased from 2,500 tons in 2004 to the 26,500 tons Sara Lee committed to buying in 2009.