Current thinking from COSA on sustainability challenges and practical solutions.

COP26 & learning from past Summits
In light of this week’s COP, I was reflecting on how these global summits have changed and what, if anything, we have learned in three decades. We may finally be seeing smart action rather than the good intentions of the past, and there is one aspect that is essential to that change.

Reframing the SDGs: 17 Promises
A creative reframing of the SDGs offers a different, human-centered approach that better relates these concepts to youth.

Advancing transparency in the Coffee Sector
The ICO has appointed COSA to develop and manage two innovative data streams that will offer transparent new insights into what farmers actually earn and their actual costs to produce.

Technology expert joins COSA Board
Allen Gunn’s place in the world of human-centered technology is substantial and he has profoundly influenced how COSA applies novel technologies and configurations to “measure what matters”. We are excited to have him join as a new Board Member.

Breakthrough Success Story: the SAFE Platform
The UN is sharing “inspiring breakthroughs and success stories” related to the SDGs as Good Practices. An innovation that COSA worked on to push the sustainability learning envelope between companies, donors, and NGOs is now one of the UN DESA’s examples of SDG Good Practices, selected for its potential for replication and scale.

Responsible Sourcing and Sustainable Sourcing: Key Differences
Often used interchangeably, responsible sourcing and sustainable sourcing share some common aspects – like traceability and knowing your farmers. But one ideally should be considered a stepping stone to the other.

Is sustainability data leaving your company vulnerable?
Companies face challenges when it comes to their sustainability data. Not only are few of them applying the same security and privacy protection to their supplier data – especially when operating in developing countries – as they do consumer data, most may be leaving value on the table through missed opportunities.

Ric Rhinehart joins COSA Board
“Ric has always brought a thoughtful and deeply principled wisdom and welcome humor to our collaborations,” says Daniele Giovannucci of COSA’s newest Board member.

The Coffee Data Standard: A Benchmark Achievement for Sustainability
In an ever-changing market environment, the Global Coffee Platform, Committee on Sustainability Assessment, Rainforest Alliance, and Waterwatch Cooperative are collaborating on the Coffee Data Standard with the support of ISEAL Alliance

IDB sustainability innovation captured in new podcasts
Hear how the Sustainable Agriculture, Food, and Environment Platform catalyzed new levels of collective learning.