This is to provide a certainty that the high quality coffee will have sufficient supply in the long run. However, Starbucks required a more holistic approach to sourcing which guarantees fair pay and working conditions, economic transparency and good resource management. For that matter, Starbucks approached Conservation International for help to develop broad quality, environmental, social and economic guidelines for the sustainable production of high quality coffee. In 2004, Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices was launched. It did not stop there. Starbucks continued to collaborate with Fairtrade, which is a social movement with a goal to help producers in developing countries obtain better trading conditions and to promote sustainability and other organizations to acquire certified coffee for the benefit of the environment and the farmers. Throughout the years, the impact of C.A.F.E. Practices were tremendously encouraging. Millions of workers have been positively impacted and the environment and social conditions of thousands of participating farms have been improving continuously.
Starbucks emphasizes on protecting the environment and believes that the planet is their most important partner. They are very committed in building meaningful and continuous change towards the environment and is approaching green retail to carry out matters like building more energy efficient stores and facilities, investing in renewable energy, exploring new recycling solutions and making their cups sustainable. Concerning the building of energy efficient stores and facilities, most of the newly operated stores worldwide has been built according to LEED standards ever since 2008. LEED also known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a green building certification program that acknowledges best-in-class building strategies and practices. One of the achievements is that Starbucks managed to open their 500th LEED certified store in the year 2014, which is more than any other retailers in the world.