News

Starbucks, Nespresso stop purchasing from Guatemalan farms employing children

March 3, 2020

An investigation by "Dispatches," a British TV documentary that aired Monday on Channel 4, claimed coffee farms in Guatemala supplying both Starbucks and Nespresso used child labor, according to a msn.com report. The documenters visited 12 farms and found seven supplied Nespresso and five supplied Starbucks in violation of the United Nations' labor regulations.

Both companies condemned the practice and said they would not buy coffee from those farms.

"We can confirm we have not purchased coffee from the farms in question in the most recent harvest season, and we will not do so until we can verify that they are not in breach of C.A.F.E. Practices — our ethical sourcing standards developed in partnership with Conservation International that provide comprehensive guidelines for social, environmental and economic criteria including zero tolerance for child labor," a Starbucks spokesperson told Vending Times via email. "We care deeply about the wellbeing of our coffee farming communities, and we will take every measure necessary to ensure these farms meet our high standards for ethical sourcing."

Nespresso, upon first hearing of the allegations from Dispatches, launched an investigation to protect against the possibility of child labor occurring on any farm the company is associated with, according to a statement sent to Vending Times.

     The company said it is investigating Guatemala farms to identify exactly where the allegations of child labor took place. It has also stopped purchases of coffee from all farms in the region and will not resume purchases until it finishes its investigation and can be assured child labor is not being used.

Nespresso has also doubled the agronomists in the region to support independent farmers, and plans to make unannounced visits to farms to check on compliance on social and labor issues.