Since the end of 2009 Starbucks has gone Fairtrade in the UK and Ireland, becoming the largest buyer of Fairtrade coffee in the world. And since last year all Costa’s coffee in the UK is Rainforest Alliance certified. The choice on your high street may very well be between the two...Ethical consumers will, of course, want to support coffee producers with Fairtrade, but they might want to spare a thought for the poverty wages and right to organise of the coffee shop worker too... [Starbucks'] ‘Social Responsibility Standards’…is rudimentary, offering even weaker protection of workers than its CAFE standards...Starbucks rates better in our Environmental Reporting category narrowly missing getting a best rating [also refers to AMT Coffee, BBs Coffee & Muffins, Caffe Nero, Caffe Ritazza, Coffee Republic, Puccino's, Soho Coffee Company]