Meet José Rivera: 2023 Sustainability Award Winner, Individual Category

José Rivera’s biggest role is to teach the value of coffee to farmers who do not know the value of the coffee they grow and to encourage them to produce better coffee with long-term sustainable benefits. Through a focus on increasing producers’ profit margins and comprehensive farmer training (both in sustainable process techniques and business models), José is able to help the coffee communities he grew up in and make truly lasting changes.

Since 2004, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has been proud to recognize outstanding work in the field of sustainability with its annual Sustainability Awards, giving thanks to extraordinary individuals, businesses, and organizations that have created projects or business models shown to expand and promote sustainability within the coffee world. The Individual category award celebrates individuals who have significantly contributed to advancing sustainability in the coffee industry, for example by raising awareness of key issues or developing a project or business model that generates positive social and environmental impacts.

One of the two 2023 Sustainability Award Individual Model Category winners is José Rivera.
For the individual category the judging panel, composed of 11 former SCA Sustainability Awards winners, scored two finalists with the same aggregated score. These winners, represent distant visions and trajectories, linked by their commitment to create a thriving coffee sector. For that reason, the SCA has awarded this year's individual recognition to both. The Second 2023 Sustainability Award Individual Category Winner is David Griswold. Meet David Griswold Here.

José Rivera is the founder and Commercial CEO of Origin Coffee Lab.

SCA Sustainability Director, Andrés Montenegro, asked José a series of questions about this achievement, and the future of sustainability in coffee.

Here’s what he said:

What does it mean to you to win this award?

I would be incredibly honored and definitely use the opportunity to showcase the amazing coffee communities we work with and the sustainability efforts we've achieved.

How is sustainability different now than it was when you began working in the coffee industry?

Sustainability has now become one of the strategic pillars of the company instead of just something good to consider. I believe sustainability is and should always be an intrinsic part of every business model, particularly in the specialty coffee industry.

How do you hope to see the coffee industry continue to evolve in pursuit of sustainability to #makecoffeebetter for all?

I hope the industry continues working towards sustainability but always with an equity goal. To eliminate discrimination and exclusions and promote the well-being of every single participant of the supply chain.

About The Sustainability Awards

The selection process for the 2023 Sustainability Awards was led by a committee of staff and volunteers, including previous SCA Sustainability Award winners. Learn more about the Sustainability Awards, including this year’s Project Category and Business Model Category award winners, as well as previous winners here.

The 2023 Sustainability Awards are generously supported by TricorBraun Flex.