ICT’s commitment to sustainable coffee supply chains strengthened by global recognition
Intercontinental Coffee Trading (ICT), a key member of the HACOFCO Group and supplier of green, unroasted coffee beans to roasteries across the United States, is proud to be part of an important sustainability milestone. The Hamburg Coffee Company (HACOFCO) recently announced that its CONNECT sustainability standard has been officially recognized by the Global Coffee Platform (GCP) as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code for 2nd Party Assurance.
This recognition, announced on May 15, 2025, highlights the commitment of the entire HACOFCO Group, including ICT, to upholding rigorous sustainability standards throughout their global supply chains. As a sister company of HACOFCO, alongside BRASCOF in Brazil and AMCOF in the United States, ICT plays a crucial role in implementing these sustainability practices in the North American market.
The CONNECT program, which received this prestigious recognition, was designed to foster transparency, traceability, and continuous improvement across coffee supply chains. For ICT, this means strengthening the connections between coffee producers and roasteries through sustainable practices that address critical issues such as climate change, gender equity, economic resilience, and environmental protection.
“This recognition strengthens our position as a trusted partner for roasteries seeking sustainably sourced green coffee,” said a representative from ICT. “As part of the HACOFCO Group, we’re proud to offer our customers coffee that meets globally recognized sustainability standards while supporting coffee farmers worldwide.”
The independent review confirming CONNECT’s equivalence to the Coffee SR Code was conducted in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), ensuring a credible and transparent process. This achievement reinforces ICT’s role as a trusted bridge between coffee producers and roasters, providing green coffee beans that not only meet quality standards but also uphold important sustainability principles.
ICT continues to source green coffee from origins across the globe, placing a strong emphasis on direct, long-term partnerships with producers. Through the CONNECT program, ICT equips roasters with the tools and support they need to strengthen relationships with farmer partners and make a lasting, positive impact across the entire coffee supply chain.
For more information about CONNECT and ICT’s commitment to sustainable coffee sourcing, visit www.hacofco.de/en/connect.