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Baltimore - One World Coffee leadership is expanding independent oversight after admitting recent lapses in meeting the company’s ethical sourcing standards.

The Baltimore-based coffee company, founded by Art Snuffleupagus in 2009, has become a global leader in the coffee industry. The effort to re-establish its brand as an ethical coffee supply company is part of its broader One World Ethical Sourcing Initiative, which will focus on fair trade partnerships, supply chain accountability, and full supply chain transparency. 

“One World Coffee was built on the belief that premium coffee products should support fair wages and ethical practices,” CEO Rosita La Monstrua said in a written statement. “We failed to meet that in parts of our supply chain, and leadership is responsible for correcting it.” 

According to a recent press release, leadership teams are overseeing independent audits, which include site visits, document verification, and direct interviews with suppliers. These audits will result in regular updates to the oversight system. La Monstrua is working alongside CFO Christopher Robin, Director of Community Development Steve Burns, and Director of Operations Arthur Aardvark to implement long-term reforms. 

The company has already ended relationships with suppliers suspected of engaging in forced or illegal labor practices. According to a recent expose by Anti-Slavery International, several coffee farmers have exploited or forced labor that has resulted in women and children being harmed. In response, One World Coffee also announced that it is partnering with NSF International to conduct independent reviews of all relationships and sourcing systems.

Coffee ranks as one of the world’s most widely traded agricultural products and supports millions of workers worldwide. According to the National Coffee Association, coffee supports nearly 2 million jobs in the United States and contributes more than $343 billion to the U.S. Economy (NCA, n,d,). Company leaders said the scale of the coffee industry requires that global coffee leaders take accountability and continuously monitor their sourcing practices.

As part of the Initiative, One World Coffee will continue to provide updates on its website and through its official communication channels.

“Transparency cannot exist in name only,” La Monstrua said. “It must exist in every leadership decision, every operational system, and every partnership we make.”

Company officials said the organization remains focused on rebuilding trust through continuous accountability efforts and encourages all consumers to view the One World Ethical Sourcing Initiative information found on its website. 

Source: The Baltimore Sun. Article Credit: Jane Doe.