01/09/26
ECOM SMS Verified achieves recognition as a sustainable coffee scheme
The Global Coffee Platform (GCP) recently recognised ECOM’s SMS Verified for the third time as equivalent to their Sustainable Reference Code, with this recognition valid through July 2028. This recognition follows an extensive documentation review process covering sustainability-related requirements and alignment with the GCP’s guidelines.
What is the Global Coffee Platform (GCP)?
The Global Coffee Platform is an international association that brings together different stakeholders across the coffee sector, including producers and their organizations, traders, roasters, governments, NGOs, financial institutions, and other participants in the coffee value chain. Its objective is to enable these stakeholders to work together on sustainability issues in coffee production.
What is SMS Verified (SMSv)?
SMS Verified is a program developed by ECOM in 2013, focused on improving sustainability among coffee producers and roasters and generating a positive impact throughout the supply chain.
SMSv requires the implementation of a set of practices at farm level and provides technical assistance to farmers participating in the program. It includes criteria related to social and environmental practices, as well as assessments of productivity and quality, in order to tailor improvement plans toward greater farm profitability.
SMSv is currently implemented in 12 origins across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, including Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Uganda, Ethiopia, Vietnam, China, and Papua New Guinea. Growing with El Salvador, Indonesia, and Kenya in 2026.
How does SMS Verified add value to ECOM?
SMSv adds value by offering a product aligned with the commitment and sustainability strategy of roasters and retailers. This enables ECOM to attract resources for investment throughout the supply chain, addressing diverse sustainability priorities. During 2024 and 2025, SMSv reached sales of 445,000 bags, and it is currently purchased by 35 roasters globally.
For more information: please contact Bryan Serrano at bserrano@ecomgroup.com
More news
Insights
Click to read this articleBuilding a traceability system in our European factories
Robert Jan van Beekhoff, Operations & Supply Chain Advisor at ECOM Cocoa Theobroma, shares key insights into the technical and operational changes required to build an end-to-end traceability system capable of linking geo-location data directly to finished cocoa products.
Insights
Click to read this articleERDA by ECOM Research
ECOM Research developed a sector-specific approach in 2023, designed to accurately detect deforestation in cocoa and coffee landscapes. ECOM Research Deforestation Analysis (ERDA), is a tool built to improve accuracy and reliability in deforestation monitoring.
News
Click to read this articleBrewing resilience: researchers safeguard coffee and chocolate from climate threats
Climate change poses growing risks to coffee and cocoa production worldwide. Featuring ECOM’s work alongside researchers and industry partners, this article from the EU’s Horizon Magazine highlights collective efforts to protect these crops and strengthen farmer resilience.
Research
Click to read this articleCMPs significantly decreased deforestation in the most at-risk protected areas in Africa since 2000
This article explores collaborative management partnerships (CMPs) between state wildlife authorities and nonprofit conservation organizations to manage protected areas (PAs) have been used increasingly across Sub-Saharan Africa since the 2000s.
Insights
Click to read this articleThe Cocoa Price - A Key Factor for a Living Income for Farmers
SWISSCO has published a brief regarding perspectives and solutions regarding the price of cocoa and how it is relevant for a living income for farmers.
Insights
Click to read this articleECOM's Green Meter
We are pleased to announce the official rollout of our internal carbon calculator, Green Meter, which has been third-party reviewed by SustainCERT.
Research
Click to read this articleClimate-Smart Agriculture and Agroforestry in Cocoa
This guidance document was published by SWISSCO and focuses on approaches, financing needs and opportunities as well as providing high level guidance for stakeholders in the cocoa sector seeking to establish a broad range of actions that take the complexity of crop- and site-specific impacts of climate change and the realities of smallholder cocoa farmers into account.
Insights
Click to read this articleBeginners guide to Carbon Credits
This report provides an overview of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), from what it is to the roles of carbon standards, governments, and Indigenous Peoples in the VCM.
Research
Click to read this articleGoogle Earth Engine, an innovative technology for forest conservation
This report explores how Google Earth Engine (GEE) can and has been used as a land monitoring tool to help enforce forest protection laws, co-authored by ECOM's SMS Manager Coffee, Thuan Sarzynski.