Lecture Description
Putting sustainability goals into practice can be challenging for coffee businesses. While many organizations are committed to sustainability, they often struggle to move from aspiration to practical solutions that deliver measurable impact.
In 2025, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) published its first How-To Guide, introducing the Sustainable Design Framework—an approach that helps organizations design sustainability strategies grounded in real-world needs, stakeholder collaboration, and long-term business viability.
This panel brings together perspectives across the full lifecycle of the framework. Moderated by SCA Sustainability Manager Andrés Montenegro, the session will explore the “before–during–after” of its development and application. Dr. Kate Fischer will share insights from the research and case studies that informed the framework. Angela Peláez (RGC Coffee) will reflect on the co-development process and how companies helped shape the approach. Brandon Bir (Crimson Cup) will present early lessons from piloting the framework in practice, including work in Guatemala.
Together, the panel will highlight how sustainability solutions can be designed, tested, and refined to respond to real needs and create shared value across coffee supply chains.
What will attendees learn from this presentation?
Attendees will gain practical insights into how to move from sustainability ambition to implementation within their own organizations. Specifically, they will:
Understand how design approaches such as the Double Diamond can help identify sustainability challenges and develop actionable, context-specific solutions.
Learn how business design elements—purpose, networks, governance, and finance—support the integration of sustainability into core operations and decision-making.
Explore real-world lessons from the design, co-development, and piloting of the SCA Sustainable Design Framework, including key challenges, adaptations, and early outcomes.
Identify practical ways to design sustainability initiatives that respond to real needs, create shared value, and strengthen relationships across coffee supply chains.
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Location: Room 23BC
Category: Sustainability
Access: This lecture is free to attend with a World of Coffee entry badge. Register to attend World of Coffee here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.
Speakers
Andrés Montenegro
Sustainability Manager, Specialty Coffee Association
Andrés Montenegro is a leading figure in sustainability leadership within the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), where he drives the sector's strategic evolution toward business models that are more equitable, resilient, and oriented toward shared value. With an international background in agri-food systems and sustainable development, he has spearheaded initiatives that integrate social impact, new value economies, and processes of deep organizational transformation. His work sits at the intersection of sustainability, strategy, and systemic leadership, guiding coffee organizations and communities in their transition toward models that are more conscious, adaptive, and capable of co-creating the future of the sector.
Kate Fischer, Ph.D.
Professor & Coffee Researcher, University of Colorado
Dr. Kate Fischer is a cultural anthropologist and Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder. She has been in coffee since 2005 and has conducted research with producers in Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Colombia. Her research focuses on gender and ethnicity; the political economy of coffee; migration and stability; and the challenges in determining quality at all levels, from farms and mills in Central America to industry centers in the global North. She is a CQI Post-Harvest Processing Expert and was a core member of the team that developed the Coffee Sustainability program for SCA.
Angela Pelaez
Director of Global sustainability and coporate compliance, RGC Coffee
Angela Peláez, from an agricultural family, is Director of Global Sustainability and Corporate Compliance at RGC Coffee. She specializes in sustainable sourcing, compliance, and impact-driven programs. At RGC, she led the design, development, and implementation of 3E, the company's flagship sustainability program, delivering measurable social, economic, and environmental benefits across coffee-producing countries. Her work strengthens supply chains, promotes biodiversity, climate resilience, and social equity, and improves traceability. Angela previously served on the SCA Sustainability Center's Farmworkers Committee and currently sits on advisory bodies for Fair Trade USA and Colombia's Coffee, Forest & Climate Agreement, focusing on making sustainability a strong business case.
Brandon Bir
Director of Sustainability, Crimson Cup Coffee
Brandon Bir is a dedicated coffee professional, Q-Instructor, and Q-PHP assistant instructor centered on international community development and supply chain equity. As Director of Sustainability, he travels extensively to forge direct-trade relationships across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, ensuring transparency from seed to cup. With an MBA in International Business and Sustainability, Brandon integrates sensory science with systemic social impact. He oversees the "Friend2Farmer" initiatives, focusing on long-term mutual success and environmental stewardship. A frequent SCA contributor and industry educator, Brandon remains committed to evolving global coffee standards through collaborative and equitable sustainability models.