Ikea has launched a new coffee range that is organic, as well as UTZ-certified.
Påtår is a series of five different coffee products available in Ikea’s Swedish food market that combines UTZ certification and organic farming standards, and the Swedish retailer has also started serving coffee with both certifications in Ikea restaurants and bistros.
All coffee sold by Ikea has been UTZ-certified since 2008, but only now has that been combined with organic production.
By choosing UTZ-certified and organic coffee, Ikea is supporting small-scale coffee producers in regions such as Central and South America, where 100% Arabica beans used for the new range are handpicked for optimum quality. To underline the Swedish heritage of Ikea, the taste profiles for Påtår have been inspired by Scandinavian coffee preferences: a full aroma, with notes of fruits and chocolate, Ikea said.
The company explained the reasoning behind its support for UTZ certification and organic farming, claiming ‘farmers that are part of the UTZ programme generally gain higher yields, better incomes and better living conditions, as well as protection of the environment’.
Meanwhile, Ikea added, ‘organic farming methods prohibit the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, and the methods secure good care of natural resources… support biodiversity on farms and reduce climate impact’.
The new Påtår range consists of a signature medium-dark blend, both medium and dark roast filter coffees, and a ‘rich and intense’ espresso coffee – all packed in either 250g or 500g bags.
Jacqueline Macalister, health and sustainability manager for Ikea Food Services, said: “At IKEA, we decided to go ‘all in’ for sustainable coffee and, building on the UTZ certification, develop a coffee range that follows the EU organic certification standards as well. I’m really happy we can now offer our customers this combination of UTZ and organic throughout our coffee range.”
UTZ executive director Han de Groot added: “The Ikea commitment to UTZ-certified and organic coffee is an inspiring example how different certification schemes can complement and support each other and jointly strengthen a company’s road towards sustainability. We are proud to work together with companies like Ikea; it is because of them we are able to make a difference for an increasing number of coffee producers, ultimately making sustainable farming the norm.”
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