4C works towards sustainable coffee supply chains and improved livelihoods of farmers
4C certification applies high standards on economic, social and environmental conditions for coffee production and processing to establish sustainable, trustworthy and fair coffee supply chains.
4C Compliant Coffee is coffee that has been produced in accordance with the 4C Code of Conduct, a set of baseline sustainable practices and principles for the production of green coffee beans. Compliance can be demonstrated through the 4C Certification System and the 4C Certificates that are subsequently issued. The responsibility for operating the 4C Certification System belongs to 4C Services GmbH.
News & Events
Revision of the 4C Code of Conduct: Public Consultation Open
The revision of the 4C Code of Conduct aims at making the system more robust and fostering a continuous improvement process on the farm level. The public consultation is open now.
Read more and participate here
4C Improving Sustainability Performance of the Coffee Sector in a Climate Change Era
A coffee news portal in Brazil, CaféPoint, published an insightful article on 4C and its path to anchoring sustainability in the entire coffee sector.
Read more here
4C Response to the COVID-19 Challenges
The outbreak of COVID-19 is currently challenging global health systems and the economy. 4C recognizes its responsibility to act and seeks solutions to ensure the health and safety of all the actors involved in its mission.
Read more here
Brazilian Cooperative Celebrates 1 Year of the Grupo Cafeína, Launching Coffees Produced Exclusively by Women and 4C Certified
This is a story of successful women empowerment. In just one year, the Grupo Cafeína, formed by devoted women, achieved visibility and national as well as international recognition. 4C also values and strengthens the presence of women in the field, reinforcing equal opportunities for women in its criteria.
Read more here
4C Events
Recap: 4C Regional Stakeholder Conference in Latin America proved to be an enriching opportunity to exchange insights on various sustainability topics from national support strategies related to growing sustainable coffee to 4C solutions for deforestation-free coffee supply chains.
Get access to the presentations and read more here
Sustainability certification benefits consumers and producers
Prof. Dr. Gernot Klepper from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy discusses how certification meets the interests of consumers and producers with examples from the coffee sector.
Read more here
Our Statement
As an independent, stakeholder-driven, internationally recognized sustainability standard for the entire coffee sector, 4C aims at anchoring sustainability in coffee supply chains across environmental, social and economic dimensions. 4C is a credible and robust system, applying innovative audit and risk assessment procedures, and is strengthened by a comprehensive integrity program. 4C System brings real impact on the ground, enabling continuous improvement and enhancing smallholder livelihoods, and supports companies in achieving and keeping their sustainability commitments.
Create a sustainable future for coffee
The 4C Code of Conduct enables coffee farmers in 28 countries to participate in sustainable markets and profit from higher economic outcomes, improved and fair working conditions and the preservation of precious landscapes and biodiversity. To achieve these goals, the 4C Code of Conduct applies important criteria in the three dimensions of sustainability:
Economic dimension
- Profitability and long term productivity
- Capacity and skill development
- Record keeping
- Access to services
- Market information and commerce
- Quality
- Business integrity (transparent business practices)
- Traceability
Social dimension
- No discrimination (ILO Conventions 110, 111, 100)
- Right to childhood and education
- Freedom of Association
- Right to collective bargaining
- Working Conditions – Labour contract
- Working Conditions – Working hours
- Working Conditions – Wages
- Working Conditions – Seasonal and piece rate workers
- Working Conditions – Occupational Health and Safety
Environmental dimension
- Conservation of Biodiversity
- Use of pesticides
- Handling of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals
- Soil Conservation
- Soil Fertility and nutrient management – Fertilisers
- Soil Fertility and nutrient management – Organic matter
- Water sources
- Wastewater
- Waste
- Energy
4C stands for reliability
4C is a trustworthy and secure system, relying on innovative technology and profound training to monitor the compliance and continuous improvement of participating farmers and partners along the supply chain.
Contact us
We are happy to discuss individual solutions with you. Please get in touch and contact us directly.