Earth Month is Every Month

At Peet’s, we are deeply committed to being responsible stewards of the environment and supporters of the communities that help bring our coffee to life—and to your cups. This dedication is reflected in the ongoing efforts we make to promote sustainable practices and contribute to the well-being of both the planet and the people involved in coffee cultivation.

One of the key ways we support the environment is by promoting coffee cultivation in a forest setting. When coffee grows under the canopy of trees, it benefits from the slow maturation of the fruit, resulting in superior cup quality. In addition, forest-grown coffee provides critical habitat for diverse flora and fauna, and the shade trees play an important role in capturing carbon emissions, helping mitigate climate change.

A significant program that supports these sustainable practices is Bird-Friendly® certification, managed by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC). Bird-Friendly® certified coffee is cultivated in ways that benefit both the environment and biodiversity. One of our favorites, Yosemite Dos Sierras Organic, is a Bird-Friendly® coffee, grown in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada. The program’s focus on bird populations reminds us of the broader health of the ecosystem and the importance of supporting agroecological balance for the sustainability of coffee-growing regions. In 2024, the SMBC project trained 98 coffee farmers in Colombia and Peru in bird friendly farming practices.

In addition to promoting Bird-Friendly® coffee, we are also committed to sourcing and roasting Organic coffees. Organic coffee production requires extra care, time, and resources from farmers, but it brings important benefits, including improvements in soil and water quality and the conservation of biodiversity. Our Gaia Organic blend is a reflection of the partnerships we have with farmers who are dedicated to maintaining the health of the planet through Organic cultivation practices.

Our producer partners are hard-working individuals, devoted to high-quality coffee production. Yet it feels like this commitment is tested more intensely by mother nature each year. An increase in disease and pest infestations, erratic and uneven rainfall, and higher temperatures are stressful to both farmers and coffee trees. This was a major driver behind our decision to team up with the Hanns R. Neumann Foundation and offer young coffee farmers in Honduras training in a specialized set of agronomy practices that are needed to adapt coffee production to the challenges posed by a changing climate. In 2024, the HRNS project trained 1,099 coffee farmers in Honduras in climate resilient farming practices. This matters because coffee trees that can hold up to climate change will help ensure sufficient crop yields, which helps put money in the pockets of farmers. There’s more detail about our work with farmers here, if you’d like to learn more.

While we recognize that much work remains to be done to protect the Earth and support communities worldwide, we are proud of the positive impact we continue to make. Our efforts serve as an inspiration for others to engage in environmental and community-focused initiatives. We remain committed to our mission and will continue to support these important endeavors for years to come.