Sustainability Language

Standards & schemes · Proprietary programme

C.A.F.E. Practices

Starbucks (verified by SCS Global)

01

What is it?

Proprietary programme issued or operated by Starbucks (verified by SCS Global).

Regulatory recognitionProprietary buyer programme; illustrative of self-created scheme risk under EmpCo

02

Which version is current?

Profile version 2. Official information last verified 22 August 2026.

03

Who and what does it cover?

Geography
Global
Sectors
Coffee
Scope
Farm / mill
04

What does it require?

Starbucks' proprietary coffee-sourcing programme (quality, economic accountability, social responsibility, environmental leadership), verified by SCS Global — the archetype of a buyer-owned standard.

What it does not demonstrateParticipation in an owner-run programme is not equivalent to independent certification and does not validate claims beyond the programme scope.

05

How is conformity assessed?

Third-party verification by approved bodies

Grievance mechanismSupplier grievance channels

06

Who makes the decision?

Starbucks (verified by SCS Global)

Assurance arrangementThird-party verification by approved bodies

07

Chain of custody

Segregated (company supply chain)

ISEAL membershipNot specified in this profile

08

Conditional relationships

Claims it may support

A relationship does not mean that the standard proves or validates every use of a claim.

All our cocoa through our own sourcing programmeMay support · Company-defined programme; claim wording should name the programme and reflect its assurance arrangements.see standards.last_verified
09

Legal context

Laws referencing it

Empowering Consumers Directive (EmpCo)EU · Referenced by law · Editor to confirm the provision and purpose of the reference.
10

Dictionary

Dictionary concepts

C.A.F.E. PracticesDictionary entry
11

Version record

What has changed

  1. Version 2Initial profile published after recorded site-owner/editor review of the complete standards batch.
  2. Version 1Initial private editorial draft imported from the reviewed standards handover.
12

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Last verified 22 August 2026. This neutral profile is informational and does not recommend, rank or endorse the standard.