Degrowth, Mutual Aid, and the Future of Coffee
At QUE ONDA, our approach to green coffee sourcing is deeply rooted in relationships, sustainability, and mutual aid. We know that a just coffee industry cannot be built on the extractive practices of capitalism but instead on models that prioritise equity, environmental health, and community resilience. This vision aligns with the broader movement of degrowth—a radical rethinking of how we structure our economies and societies to prioritise people and the planet over profit.
Challenging Growth for Growth’s Sake
Degrowth is not merely about consuming less; it is about fundamentally reshaping our economic and social systems to create a world where well-being is decoupled from relentless expansion. In contrast, capitalism’s stagnation leads to intensified competition, growing inequality, and a society where people lack the ability to support each other due to systemic scarcity. The logic of infinite growth, extraction, and accumulation does not serve farmers, workers, or the environment—it serves capital.
In coffee, this is particularly evident. Large corporations consolidate supply chains, drive down prices, and impose market structures that benefit only those at the top. Meanwhile, producers—especially smallholders—struggle against climate change, fluctuating prices, and financial instability. The system is rigged in favour of those who own the means of production, while those who do the work remain vulnerable.
Mutual Aid as a Foundation for a Just Economy
In a society dominated by competition, extending a hand to others becomes increasingly difficult. Mutual aid, the practice of communities supporting one another without profit motives, is at the heart of an alternative vision. True sustainability in coffee requires a redistribution of power and wealth—not certifications and marketing-friendly greenwashing.
If we are serious about equality and mutual aid, we must question the structures of class, money, and markets. Policies that simply tweak capitalism to appear more sustainable will never be enough. As long as production and markets operate within the logic of private profit, true transformation will be out of reach.
From Coffee to a Degrowth Future
Mainstream sustainability models often stop short of challenging the root causes of inequality and environmental degradation. The widely discussed "Doughnut Economy" model, for instance, highlights the need for fair distribution, technology, and governance but hesitates to confront private property and market structures directly. This is a limitation we cannot afford.
As we confront climate crises, corporate consolidation, and deep-seated inequalities in coffee and beyond, we must consider new models—ones that put cooperation over competition, well-being over profit, and ecological balance over endless extraction. This is the future of coffee we believe in: one where the people who grow coffee have control over their work and livelihoods, rather than being exploited.
Looking to the Past to Build the Future
The notion that capitalism will accept low or no growth and naturally transition to a steady-state economy is wishful thinking. History has shown that periods of stagnation result not in equitable redistribution but in intensified exploitation, ecological imperialism, and disaster capitalism.
To avoid a future of deepening inequality and climate-driven crises, we need a theory—and a practice—that is willing to criticise capitalism in plain terms. There is no time for half-measures. The degrowth movement must engage with the radical critiques of capitalism that thinkers like Karl Marx provided, not to replicate past mistakes but to envision a future where class divisions, exploitation, and ecological destruction are replaced with systems that genuinely prioritise collective well-being.
A Call for Radical Change
Many might resist linking Marxist critiques to degrowth, citing historical environmental failures of past socialist economies. But the failures of the Soviet model do not invalidate the core insights Marx offers into class struggle, labour exploitation, and the inherent instability of capitalist economies.
If we are serious about a just and sustainable future, we must rethink the entire system—not just adjust its edges. At QUE ONDA, our commitment to equitable coffee sourcing is one small part of a much larger movement. By standing with producers, advocating for fairer structures, and fostering real connections, we contribute to a future where coffee—and all aspects of life—are no longer dominated by the exploitative forces of capitalism.
Degrowth is not a retreat; it is a step towards a freer, fairer, and more sustainable world.