Rainforest Alliance

Hello! We are the Rainforest Alliance, an international non-profit organization with a mission to build a better world. Our story began back in 1987. During that time, people all over the globe were becoming increasingly aware of a very serious problem: the world's magnificent and vital rainforests were in danger. These incredible ecosystems, which are home to millions of species of plants and animals, were shrinking at an alarming rate. We were founded with a clear and urgent purpose: to find a way to protect these forests and all the life they support. From our very first day, our mission has been to create a better future where both people and nature can thrive together. We believe the most effective way to achieve this goal is by making responsible business the new normal. This means encouraging and helping companies, farmers, and shoppers to make choices that are good for our planet and fair for the people who grow our food and gather our resources.

Perhaps you have seen a small, bright green frog on a package of chocolate, a bag of coffee, or a bunch of bananas at the grocery store. That little frog is our official certification seal, and it is one of the most important tools we use to accomplish our mission. When you spot our seal on a product, it serves as a helpful signal. It tells you that the farm where the ingredients were grown follows standards that support sustainability. This is a very important concept that means we find ways to meet our own needs today without making it harder for people in the future to meet their needs. It is all about finding a healthy balance between the environment, society, and the economy. We carefully chose a frog for our symbol because scientists consider amphibians, like frogs, to be indicator species. This means that healthy frog populations are a clear sign of a healthy environment. Frogs are very sensitive to pollution and changes in their habitat, so when they are doing well, it’s a good sign that the surrounding forest and water sources are also healthy. By choosing to "follow the frog," you can help support farmers who are working hard to protect nature.

Our green frog seal is something you can easily see in a store, but our most important work happens far from the checkout aisle, out in the fields and forests where products begin their long journey to you. We work directly with farmers and forest communities in many different countries around the world. We believe in partnership, which means we work alongside them to find solutions that fit their local environment and culture. A key part of our work is providing training and support to help them use more sustainable agriculture methods. For instance, we teach farming techniques that help protect the surrounding forests instead of clearing them to create more farmland. We introduce methods to conserve precious water resources, which is especially important in areas affected by drought. We also show farmers how to protect the health of their soil so it can continue to grow healthy crops for many years to come. This science-based approach benefits nature, but it also directly helps people. These improved methods often improve the lives of the workers and their families. When farmers learn to grow better crops while respecting the environment, they can often earn a better, more stable income, which helps them build stronger, healthier communities.

As our organization grew and our work expanded, we were always looking for ways to have an even bigger and more positive impact on the world. A very important step in our journey took place in 2018. In that year, we made the decision to merge with another respected organization called UTZ, which shared many of our same goals for creating a more sustainable world. By officially joining together, we were able to combine our strengths, our scientific knowledge, and our dedicated teams from all over the world. You can think of it like two separate streams flowing together to become a much larger, more powerful river capable of making a bigger difference. This strategic partnership allows us to help even more farmers adopt sustainable practices and gives them better access to connect with companies that want to buy their responsibly grown goods. It also means we have more resources to work on protecting more land across the globe. Today, because of this successful teamwork and our many dedicated partners, our work now reaches and benefits people and nature in over 70 countries, from tropical rainforests to other vital landscapes.

Our mission continues with great urgency every single day. We remain deeply focused on our vision of creating a world where people and nature can truly thrive side-by-side. A major part of our current work involves fighting the global challenge of climate change. We do this by helping to keep forests standing, as healthy forests are essential for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and protecting us from the worst effects of a changing climate. We also work to protect biodiversity, which is the incredible and beautiful variety of all living things on Earth. At the same time, we focus on promoting the rights and improving the livelihoods of rural people, ensuring they are treated fairly and have a strong voice in the decisions that affect their lands and their futures. You have an important part to play in this global story, too. Every person can help build a healthier planet through their daily actions. One simple but powerful way is by looking for our green frog seal when you and your family shop. When you choose a product with our seal, you are casting a vote for a better world and supporting our shared vision for a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone.