Case Study: How Kiwa worked with Lebensbaum to implement the We Care sustainability standard

Since 1979, Lebensbaum, headquartered in Germany, has been producing organic coffee, tea, and spices, making it a leader in the organic sector. 

Like many companies in the food industry, Lebensbaum operates within a complex landscape of certifications, supply chains, and regulatory expectations. There are, in fact, many certifications in the industry, each with its own audits, requirements, and costs. As such, managing multiple certifications can be challenging.

Added to these challenges, there is increasing pressure to ensure transparency across the full supply chain, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects, and to address topics such as supply chain due diligence.

To address these challenges, we audited Lebensbaum against the We Care standard. 

The standard is overseen by the Research Institute for Organic Agriculture, which continues to develop it over time.

“Unlike traditional certifications, We Care is not a product-based certification,” explains Anurag Bhakar, Product Manager, System Certification at Kiwa Germany. “It is a management system approach that looks at a company as a whole. Even if a company has multiple products, the We Care certification can cover them all.”

“As the certification body for the We Care standard, Kiwa is currently the only organization carrying out these certifications,” explains Anurag. “In this role, we act as an independent auditor. We provide audit frameworks and checklists, review documentation, and verify how sustainability is managed in practice. Then the companies themselves are responsible for gathering the required information and implementing their systems, while we assess where requirements are met and where there is scope for improvement.”

“For Lebensbaum, this process extended across the full supply chain,” furthers Anurag. “We assessed suppliers based on environmental and social criteria, including selection processes, internal audits, and risk evaluation. This includes how suppliers are managed and how risks are addressed, even in cases where smaller or micro suppliers may not have formal structures in place. Through this, we ensure that due diligence obligations are met and support continuous improvement over time.”

The result is a more structured and transparent system. For Lebensbaum, the We Care standard brings sustainability into one framework, recognizes existing certifications to reduce overlap, and supports continuous improvement across the organization.

“There are many clear benefits for companies. And at higher certification levels, the We Care label can also be used on products, showing that sustainability requirements apply across the company as a whole. This has a far-reaching impact since it provides consumers with a clear, independently verified basis for trust,” underlines Anurag. 

If your organization is equally dealing with multiple certifications, complex supply chains, or increasing regulatory expectations, a structured approach becomes essential. As an independent certification body, we support this through audits, verification, and clear identification of improvement areas. 

Get in touch with our experts to start applying the We Care standard in your organization.

Contact person: Anurag Bhakar
Email: Anurag.Bhakar@kiwa.com
Telephone: +49 (0) 30 / 46 776 152