Decided on new partnerships with "Cooxupé" and "Mitsui & Co. Coffee Trading Brazil" toward realizing 100% sustainable coffee procurement

UCC Group has decided on a new partnership with "Cooxupé" and "Mitsui & Co. Coffee Trading Brazil" to achieve one of the goals set forth in the UCC Sustainability Guidelines: "Procure 100% sustainable coffee for its own brands by 2030." With this, the number of procurement partners meeting the company's sustainable coffee procurement standards will reach a total of 12 corporations, comprising 3 certification organizations and 9 trading companies.

With the purpose to "Unlock the power of coffee for a better world," UCC Group globally develops an integrated coffee business from cultivation to a single cup of coffee. Furthermore, in April 2022, the company established the "UCC Sustainability Guidelines" and set "making our brand's coffee procurement 100% sustainable by 2030" as one of its goals. In setting this goal, the company established new standards for sustainable coffee procurement across three sustainable elements: Planet, People, and Product. Under the audit of collaborative partners in procurement, the company will promote coffee procurement that meets these standards.

The two new partner companies have their own standards that include "promoting sustainable coffee cultivation, preserving ecosystems, and supporting the improvement of farmers' livelihoods," which is also what the UCC Group aims for in its sustainability guidelines, aiming to realize sustainable coffee production together with producers.

Through this new collaboration, UCC Group, as a member of the global society, will work towards the realization of a sustainable society to deliver coffee, the blessing of the sun and the earth, to people around the world far into the future.

● Messages from Representatives

ESG Manager, Ms. Natalia Car

The partnership with UCC is an important step for Cooxupé. Together, we will promote sustainable procurement and create long-lasting and valuable impacts on coffee producers and future generations.

Company Name: Cooxupé

Headquarters: Minas Gerais, Brazil

CEO, Mr. Marcelo Moura

We are proud to support the UCC Group's sustainability and share a vision for realizing a more sustainable coffee sector. The Mitsui Sustainability Certification VSS Midori completely aligns with this aspiration and, through the promotion of best practices across the entire coffee value chain, goes beyond environmental responsibility. This comprehensive framework supports continuous improvement at the producer level, strengthens economic sustainability through proper management and financial stability, promotes responsible production from seedlings and genetic resources to post-harvest processes, ensures complete traceability through solid monitoring and document management, promotes environmental stewardship through conservation, legal compliance, and zero deforestation, and strengthens social responsibility by providing safe working environments and training, and complying with labor-related laws and regulations. Through this integrated approach, and by aligning the shared vision of Mitsui and UCC, we aim to promote sustainability from cultivation to a cup of coffee, trigger positive changes, and contribute to people's happiness through the power of coffee.

Company Name: Mitsui & Co. Coffee Trading Brazil

Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil

・UCC Group Sustainable Coffee Procurement: https://www.ucc.co.jp/company/sustainability/people/coffee/

About UCC Group

Since its founding in 1933, UCC Group has built a unique business model that consistently handles everything from cultivation in producing countries to raw material procurement, research and development, roasting and processing, sales, quality assurance, and even culture and education. Net sales for the fiscal year ending December 2024 amounted to 397.9 billion yen, and the company promotes business through a global network including Japan, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America. Under the purpose "Unlock the power of coffee for a better world," the company is accelerating activities that balance the realization of a sustainable society and business growth, setting the realization of carbon neutrality by 2040 and the promotion of sustainable coffee procurement. Furthermore, it continues to challenge unique value creation that is not bound by existing frameworks, such as the development of the world's first canned coffee, the operation of the educational institution "UCC Coffee Academy" and the "UCC Coffee Museum" which inherits and creates coffee knowledge, "YOINED" which evolved coffee from "drinking" to "eating", and the start of mass production of the world's first "hydrogen roasted coffee".