World of Coffee San Diego 2026

Building Sustainability Solutions: Designing, Testing, and Implementing Sustainability Models that Respond to Real Needs and Create Shared Value (Room 23 BC)

11 Apr 26
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Tracks: Lectures

Speaker(s): Andrés Montenegro, Sustainability Manager, Specialty Coffee Association; Kate Fischer, Ph.D., Professor & Coffee Researcher, University of Colorado; Angela Pelaez, Director of Global sustainability and corporate compliance, RGC Coffee; Brandon Bir, Director of Sustainability, Crimson Cup Coffee

Putting sustainability goals into practice can be daunting for coffee businesses. Many organizations want to implement meaningful sustainability strategies but struggle to move from aspirational commitments to practical solutions that deliver measurable impact. In 2025, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) published its first How-To Guide. The guide introduces the Sustainable Design Framework, an approach that helps organizations design sustainability strategies grounded in real-world needs, stakeholder collaboration, and long-term business viability In this panel, the SCA Sustainability Manager, Andrés Montenegro will be joined by coffee organizations of many shapes and sizes who are piloting the framework. Panelist will share insights from the field, including what worked, what proved difficult, and how sustainability initiatives evolve when tested in real supply chains.