In Costa Rica the process of making the coffee production more sustainable has already started. At
beneficio-level, technical adjustments, which are supported by governmental laws, decreased the
level of water contamination of the coffee de-pulping and washing processes. At farm level,
several coffee producers switch to more sustainable or organic farming. These changes indicate a
growing awareness in the Costa Rican part of the coffee-chain. At the other end of the chain, in the
Netherlands, changes take place at the level of roasting companies and coffee retailers. The
roasters, for example, use environmentally friendly production techniques and make
environmentally sound investments. At retail level, a Dutch retailer introduced a proper
ecological-retail trademark, including coffee. Figure 4 visualises these participants of the coffee
chain as relevant at this stage of the project.
For each of the participants, management information will be valuable to calculate costs and
benefits. Subsequently sustainable indicators can be used to integrate ecological, economic and
social aspects in the information system, which enables sustainable decision-making at all levels of
the coffee-chain.