UTZ CERTIFIED

UTZ Certified is a label and program for sustainable farming of agricultural products launched in 2002, which claims to be the largest program for coffee in the world. It was formerly known as Utz Kapeh, meaning 'Good Coffee' in the Mayan language, hence the current 'UTZ certified good inside' logo. On 7 March 2007, the Utz Kapeh Foundation officially changed its name and logo to UTZ Certified. UTZ Certified is a foundation for the worldwide implementation of a standard for responsible coffee, cocoa, tea and rooibos farming and sourcing. UTZ certified cooperatives, estate farms and producer groups comply with the Code of Conduct for the respective products. This Code is an internationally recognized set of criteria for sustainable and professional coffee growing, which includes socially and environmentally appropriate coffee growing practices, and efficient farm management.

UTZ Certified products are traceable from grower to end product manufacturers (e.g. in coffee this is the roaster); they operate an advanced web-based track-and-trace system, showing the buyers of UTZ certified products credibly link to the certified source(s). Some coffee brands and retailers also provide their customers with this transparency through online coffee tracers. UTZ certified coffee is sold in almost 50 consuming countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, UK, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Japan, USA and Canada. UTZ Certified coffee producers are located in Latin America, Asia and Africa. With an expanding range of programs for agricultural products, like cocoa, tea, rooibos tea and the traceability services for palm oil and cotton the presence of UTZ Certified is in a growing number of producing and consuming countries.