4C, as a leading organization in sustainable coffee certification, has been awarded a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund for a groundbreaking project aimed at enhancing social auditing and the identification of human rights violations for both external third party certification bodies and internal monitoring by the certificate holders.
Project Overview
Over the next 24 months, 4C will develop a holistic and socially sensitive auditing methodology, including practical tools and supporting materials to enhance the detection of human rights violations during on-site audits. This project will be executed in collaboration with partners such as Meo Carbon Solutions, ISCC and a number of 4C cooperating Certification Bodies.
Key Objectives and Activities
The primary goal is to improve the identification, assessment, and management of social risks and human rights violations. Initial efforts will focus on stakeholder consultation and needs assessment to design effective auditing and capacity-building methodologies.
Activities will include:
- Baseline assessment with Certification Bodies and auditors on current auditing techniques and challenges.
- Consultation with 4C Managing Entities and ISEAL community members
- Revision of the Internal Management System (IMS) and creation of templates for internal risk assessment
- Developing a hybrid auditing approach and tools combining in-person and e-learning methods
- Elaborating a comprehensive training package (including a training pilot with Certification Bodies and Managing Entities) to support the capacity building of auditors and improve the internal management and monitoring system of the MEs.
- Integration into 4C System and results dissemination.
Innovation and Impact
The project emphasizes a participatory approach, ensuring the inclusion of voices from affected communities. Auditors will be trained to recognize, and document nuanced human rights issues while maintaining confidentiality and objectivity. The initiative aims to integrate these improvements into the 4C Certification System, enhancing its social impact.
By improving social auditing techniques that support transparency, risk mitigation and stronger grievance mechanisms, the project aspires to foster greater accountability and continuous improvement in the internal and external detection of human rights violations. Certified entities, auditors, and local communities will benefit from increased capacity to detect social risks, ultimately leading to better protection of human rights across the coffee supply chain.
Conclusion
With the grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, 4C’s project represents a significant step towards detecting human rights issues in the coffee sector. By enhancing social auditing processes and integrating community voices, the initiative aims to create a more transparent and accountable certification system, ultimately improving the wellbeing of coffee farming communities worldwide.
This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, which is supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and UK International Development from the UK government.
About the ISEAL Innovations Fund
The ISEAL Innovations Fund (‘the Fund’) is ISEAL’s grant making-facility, co-developed and funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO since 2016, which supports the exploration of innovations that help sustainability systems deliver more value to their stakeholders and effectively drive improvement over time, and at scale. The Fund launched a second phase of work in 2023. Grants in phase two (2023 – 2027) are made possible through financial support of SECO and UK International Development from the UK government. This grant empowers sustainability systems to develop innovative partnerships, approaches, and scalable solutions. It offers technical support, guidance, and promotes cross-sector learning within and beyond the ISEAL community. The fund focuses on innovation, relevance, replicability, beneficiary engagement, monitoring, collaboration, and value for investment.
The EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) mandates companies to ensure that products sold in the EU do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation, requiring stringent due diligence processes to trace the origin and sustainability of commodities like soy, palm oil, beef, wood, coffee, cocoa, and rubber.
EUDR is set to become fully applicable on December 31, 2024. Companies that fail to comply with the regulations can face significant penalties, including fines, confiscation of products, and possible bans from the EU market. Enforcement mechanisms will be in place to ensure that only compliant products enter the EU, thereby holding companies accountable for their supply chains’ environmental impacts.
It’s crucial for companies to be proactive in aligning with these regulations to maintain their market presence and contribute to global sustainability. 4C offers a comprehensive solution by partnering with Global Risk Assessment Services (GRAS) to provide tailor-made tools for risk assessment and compliance. In combination with a thorough and credible certification system this ensures that your supply chain is not only compliant but also sustainable.
We are proud to highlight some of the 4C certified companies that are already compliant with EUDR:
SIMEXCO Daklak Ltd.
SIMEXCO Daklak Ltd. is a leading exporter of high-quality coffee from Vietnam’s Daklak province. The company supports sustainable farming practices and helps farmers achieve certifications like 4C’s solutions. SIMEXCO invests in social responsibility initiatives, enhancing community infrastructure, education, and healthcare, while also implementing climate resilience programs to help farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions.
“It’s our great honor to have accompanied 4C from the early days of their certification implementation in Vietnam. Simexco highly appreciates 4C’s robust efforts in supporting enterprises to comply with the EUDR regulation. The GRAS risk assessment system offers the analysis of large datasets from various sources, providing a comprehensive view of potential risks and supporting decision-making. Furthermore, the system provides risk reports, enabling enterprises to proactively develop solutions and mitigation actions.”
Sucden Coffee Vietnam Co. Ltd.
Sucden Coffee Vietnam Co. Ltd. is a key player in the global coffee trade, specializing in sourcing, processing, and exporting high-quality Vietnamese coffee. The company prioritizes sustainability by sourcing from certified sustainable farms, promoting environmentally-friendly farming practices, and supporting local farmers with training and fair trade conditions. Additionally, Sucden engages in community development projects to enhance living standards in coffee-growing regions.
“The 4C organization has taken steps to create conditions for companies to export 4C certified goods according to EUDR standards to the European market. Sucden Coffee Vietnam Co., Ltd. is one of the leading companies in EUDR compliance according to 4C certification and has achieved 4C EUDR certification, With the support of the 4C organization, the registration and implementation of 4C EUDR is not too difficult. Currently, our company feels very happy to be able to export coffee to the European market with higher profits.”
Tin Thanh Dat Joint Stock Company
Tin Thanh Dat Joint Stock Company operates across various sectors, including agriculture and trading. The company is dedicated to sustainability, focusing on sustainable farming techniques, resource efficiency, and renewable energy investments. Tin Thanh Dat also actively participates in corporate social responsibility initiatives, supporting local communities through education, healthcare, and economic development programs.
“The journey for EUDR compliance certification is challenging but also valuable. This is also an opportunity for Tin Thanh Dat to complete and enhance its sustainable coffee production system. After more than a year of tireless efforts, we have fully met the principles and criteria of the 4C Code of Conduct, complied with the EUDR and Vietnamese law, regarding topics such as farm management, labour rights, etc. and especially environmental protection“.
Tuan Loc Commodities Company Limited
Tuan Loc Commodities Company Limited specializes in trading and exporting agricultural products. Committed to sustainability, the company ensures ethical sourcing and promotes environmental protection by reducing waste and using eco-friendly packaging. Tuan Loc empowers farmers with training in sustainable practices and supports fair labor standards to improve the livelihoods of those in its supply chain.
“TLC’s composure stemmed from a deep understanding of 4C as a sustainability standard that not only addresses fundamental sustainability issues but also provides a solid foundation for tackling more advanced topics such as eco-diversity, gender balance, decarbonization, and anti-deforestation. Vinh Nguyen, TLC’s CEO, played a significant role in this understanding: back in 2007/2008, he was one of the first coffee professionals in Vietnam to translate the original 4C Code into Vietnamese and implemented it with a small group of Vietnamese farmers in a pilot project. Upon delving into the EUDR requirements, TLC realized that much of the EUDR compliance groundwork had actually already been laid through its ongoing 4C projects. The company had already located and mapped its farmers, organized a seamless supply chain to its mills, and established traceability in its procurement and processing systems. The additional work involved sending the geo-coordinate data of farmers to a centralized deforestation database and verifying that the supply chain is deforestation-free. This realization allowed TLC to stay focused and methodically complete the necessary tasks. TLC’s efforts paid off in June 2024, when the company was awarded the EUDR Compliance certificate by the 4C Organization. This certification, based on a thorough evaluation of its geo-data and adherence to EU regulations, confirms that TLC’s coffee is deforestation-free. Achieving this milestone a full six months ahead of the compliance deadline, TLC stands as one of the first exporters in Vietnam and globally to meet these stringent requirements.”
Vinh Hiep
Vinh Hiep Co., Ltd. was established in 1991. After more than 30 years of operation in the fields of production, purchasing, processing and exporting green coffee beans, pepper, roasted and ground coffee and instant coffee. We are proud to be one of the leading enterprises in exporting agricultural products, in the Top 500 largest enterprises in Vietnam. For many years in a row, it has been recognized by the Minister of Industry and Trade as a typical export unit of Vietnam.
“We at Vinh Hiep are thrilled to receive our first-ever 4C EUDR report! This report is particularly significant because it demonstrates 4C’s innovative approach in bridging the EUDR regulations with data on coffee farms and producer activities. Through its user-friendly portal, 4C has significantly streamlined EUDR compliance for producers like ourselves. While not the first to receive an EUDR report, Vinh Hiep still shares a sense of pioneering spirit in this achievement. This report will be a valuable asset in building trust with our European partners for the upcoming coffee season. A heartfelt thank you to the 4C EUDR team for their unwavering support.”
Simexco Dak Lak has become the first company to comply with the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) using 4C certification. The EUDR aims to curb global deforestation by ensuring that commodities imported into the EU do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation. This regulation, effective from the end of 2024 onwards, requires companies to demonstrate that their supply chains are free from deforestation and maintain detailed records of their sourcing practices. Additionally, companies must comply with national laws, international conventions, such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) core conventions, and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
EUDR Overview
The EUDR was enacted to combat global deforestation. By enforcing stringent measures, the EUDR seeks to ensure that agricultural commodities, including coffee, cocoa, soy, and palm oil, entering the EU market are not associated with deforestation or forest degradation. Companies must prove that their supply chains are deforestation-free through comprehensive traceability systems, polygons and geo-coordinates to prove that their operations are in line with local legal regulations. This involves maintaining detailed records of the origin of their products and providing evidence that these sources comply with sustainable land use practices. Non-compliance can lead to severe penalties on the operator, the trader importing the respective commodity to or exporting from the EU, including fines and import bans, underscoring the EU’s commitment to environmental protection.
Simexco Dak Lak’s Commitment
Simexco Dak Lak, founded in 1993, has a history of pioneering efforts in sustainable coffee production. Over the years, the company has grown to become a leading coffee exporter in Vietnam. The company collaborates closely with local farmers, providing them with training and support to adopt sustainable practices that meet international standards.
To achieve compliance with EUDR, Simexco collected all the necessary data such as geo-coordinates and polygons required by the EUDR. These were checked by 4C and uploaded to the 4C Portal. In addition, they ran the legality self-assessment based on the 4C Code of Conduct, available open source on the 4C website and signed the attached self-declaration on legal production.
4C Certification: A Cornerstone of Success
Central to Sim
exco Dak Lak’s success is its 4C (Common Code for the Coffee Community) certification. The 4C certification is a globally recognized standard for sustainable coffee production, emphasizing economic viability, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. This certification played a crucial role in helping Simexco Dak Lak meet EUDR requirements by providing a robust framework for sustainable practices.
The 4C certification ensures that coffee is produced in a manner that conserves biodiversity, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes fair working conditions, among other social, economic and environmental principles of good and recognized practices. For Simexco Dak Lak, adhering to 4C standards meant implementing comprehensive traceability systems, ensuring that all coffee production processes were transparent and verifiable. This certification validated the company’s sustainable practices and enhanced its credibility in the international arena.
Celebrating Success
The achievement was celebrated in a recent ceremony, underscoring Simexco Dak Lak’s role in the coffee industry. This milestone sets a benchmark for other companies in the region and highlights the importance of sustainable practices in ensuring long-term success and environmental protection. The company’s commitment to 4C standards demonstrates how certification can drive compliance with global regulations and promote a sustainable coffee sector.
For more details, visit the Simexco Dak Lak and VietnamPlus articles.
We are proud to announce that 4C has joined the Swiss Sustainable Coffee Platform (SSCP), a significant step forward in our mission to promote sustainability in the coffee industry.
About the Swiss Sustainable Coffee Platform
The SSCP, launched on June 6, 2024, is a collaborative initiative that brings together the Swiss coffee industry, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), civil society, and academia. The platform aims to create a coffee industry that respects human rights, protects the environment, and ensures sustainable sourcing practices, ultimately improving the livelihoods of coffee producers and their families.
Benefits of Membership
Membership in the SSCP offers 4C access to a wealth of shared resources, know-how, and best practices. This collective knowledge enhances our ability to address systemic sustainability issues such as climate change and living income for coffee farmers. Additionally, our participation in the SSCP enables us to collaborate on public-private partnership projects in coffee-producing countries, co-financed by SECO.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
As a member of the SSCP, 4C is committed to:
- Leveraging collective knowledge to tackle key sustainability challenges.
- Participating in and promoting projects that improve living conditions and economic resilience for coffee farmers.
- Engaging in policy dialogue and peer exchanges to foster continuous improvement in sustainability practices.
- Collaborating with other members to navigate regulatory requirements in a pre-competitive context.
Looking Ahead
Joining the SSCP aligns with our ongoing efforts to advance sustainability in the coffee value chain. We are excited about the opportunities this membership presents and look forward to working closely with other SSCP members. By sharing insights and learning from one another, we aim to make a substantial impact on the coffee industry, benefiting producers, their families, and the environment.
Stay tuned for further updates on our initiatives and progress as part of the Swiss Sustainable Coffee Platform. Together, we can build a more sustainable future for the coffee industry.
For more information about the SSCP and our involvement, please visit the SSCP website.
4C is proud to announce its achievement of equivalence recognition against the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) Version 3.0.
The SAI Platform is a global organization committed to advancing sustainable agriculture practices, and its Farm Sustainability Assessment is a comprehensive tool that evaluates and benchmarks sustainability performance across various agricultural sectors.
The 4C certification operates on a model of continuous improvement wherein the certified groups of farmers constantly work towards reaching the next higher sustainability level. This means that certified groups of farmers need to comply with increasingly thorough and strict criteria over subsequent certification cycles. Every three years the audits for re-certification include additional checkpoints and a new improvement plan is set up each time with objectives to achieve until the next audit.
Following the benchmarking, based on this progressive system, 4C has achieved:
- FSA Gold Level Equivalence for its certification standard for sustainability level 3
- FSA Silver Level Equivalence for level 1 of the certification
The FSA Gold Level Equivalence recognition is granted to organizations that demonstrate exceptional performance in implementing sustainable practices, aligning with the SAI Platform’s rigorous standards.
This recognition, through a thorough evaluation process, underscores 4C’s commitment to fostering sustainable practices and highlights its dedication to advancing environmental and social responsibility within the coffee and cocoa sector.
“We are honoured to receive the FSA Gold Level Equivalence recognition from the SAI Platform for our commitment to promoting sustainable practices in coffee production and supply chains. This achievement reflects our ongoing efforts to drive positive impact in the sector and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future,” said Norbert Schmitz, Managing Director at 4C Services.
“I would like to congratulate 4C Services on their benchmarking equivalence to the FSA. The Gold Level Equivalence of level 3 exemplifies 4C’s commitment to thriving and sustainable coffee and cocoa sectors. With this also being the first coffee-specific benchmark against FSA 3.0, it also shows that 4C continues to be a leader”, added Joe Iveson, FSA Manager, Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform.
Empowering Female Coffee Farmers: The Transformative Impact of the 4C Gender Equality Add-On in Colombia
Women play a vital role in global coffee production, being responsible for up to 70% of the direct production work during planting, harvesting, processing, sorting, and grading (depending on the region). In spite of their fundamental work, their level of participation in farm decision-making and negotiation processes still tends to be very low. Furthermore, in many coffee producing regions, limitations to access key resources such as land, financial resources, and education are still prevailing, which entails negative consequences not only on the income, health, food security and education of coffee farming families, but also on coffee yields and quality. Therefore, the 4C Code of Conduct has established specific criteria to tackle the root cause of discrimination and inequality. Going a step further, the 4C Gender Equality (GE) Add-On continues this path of female empowerment by fostering the transformation of social norms translating them into actions.
One of the first 4C Units to obtain the 4C Gender Equality Add-On certification was a group of female farmers in the department of Huila, Colombia, managed by Sucden Colombia. Subsequently, we would like to put a spotlight on these pioneer women by giving them room to share their stories and how the 4C GE certification has transformed their realities:
Diva Pineda who is 42 years old and has spent 30 years of those being a coffee grower, emphasises that “the training received has served to empower the women of the community and the talk of gender equity allows us to see life from a different perspective, in which the farm is no longer only the responsibility of the husband, but from a more family-based approach that allows us to become more involved in all the processes”(Individual interview: DIVA MARÍA PINEDA)
This is also what Rubiela Osorio (47) confirms, who has also been a coffee farmer for 25 years, stating as “this process has provided us with tools that promote our leadership and our empowerment to face challenges and come up with new ideas” (Individual interview: RUBIELA OSORIO PERDOMO). Luz López (44), a mother of two children, stresses that the greatest learning she has taken away from this experience is to understand the importance of leadership in decision making and she mentions that they feel more empowered to continue working to reduce gender gaps. (Individual interview: LUZ NIDIA LÓPEZ PARRA)
These women, who agree that they have experienced many difficulties in their work during the decades of experience they have accumulated in coffee production, see in the GE Add-On an opportunity to generate a positive impact not only in the lives of women, but also in their communities. Their expectations for the future focus on the possibility of selling differentiated coffee with a gender focus, generating derivative products with their own brand, and improving their associative structures to achieve greater economic stability and improve their quality of life.
Responding to these expectations, the 4C Gender Equality Add-On represents a tool to empower women coffee farmers and to continue working to transform gender-related social norms. The participation of this group of female farmers sets a significant precedent in the transformation for gender equality in the Colombian coffee industry.
Continuing to support initiatives that promote gender equality in coffee production is crucial to bring about sustainable change in the industry. Supporting green coffee suppliers in adopting the 4C Gender Equality Add-On and implementing recommended improvements is a direct step towards more sustainable coffee and a real commitment to gender equality.
Join us on this journey towards gender equality. Together, we can make a difference and improve conditions in coffee production worldwide. To get started, contact us at info@4c-services.org
Empoderando a las Mujeres Caficultoras: El Impacto Transformador del Complemento 4C de Igualdad de Género 4C en Colombia
En la industria global del café, las mujeres desempeñan roles vitales, llegando a encargarse de hasta el 70% (dependiendo de la región) de las labores directas de la producción en las etapas de plantación, recolección, procesamiento, clasificación. A pesar de eso, su nivel de participación en los procesos de toma de decisiones de las fincas y de negociación para la comercialización del tiende a ser aún muy bajo. Además, en muchas regiones productoras de café siguen prevaleciendo las limitaciones para acceder a recursos clave como la tierra, los recursos financieros y la educación, lo que conlleva consecuencias negativas no sólo para los ingresos, la salud, la seguridad alimentaria y la educación de las familias caficultoras, sino también para el rendimiento y la calidad del café. Ante esta problemática, el Código de Conducta 4C ha establecido criterios específicos para atajar de raíz la discriminación y la desigualdad. Al profundizar aún más, el Complemento de Igualdad de Género (GE) 4C continúa este camino de empoderamiento femenino fomentando la transformación de las normas sociales traduciéndolas en acciones.
Una de las primeras Unidades 4C en obtener la certificación complementaria 4C Igualdad de Género fue un grupo de agricultoras del departamento de Huila, Colombia, gestionado por Sucden Colombia. A continuación, nos gustaría poner el foco en estas mujeres pioneras dándoles espacio para compartir sus historias y cómo la certificación 4C GE ha transformado sus realidades:
Diva Pineda, de 42 años, de los cuales 30 ha sido caficultora, enfatiza que “las capacitaciones recibidas han servido para el empoderamiento de las mujeres de la comunidad y el hablar de la equidad de género nos permite ver la vida desde un enfoque diferente en el cual la finca ya no solo es responsabilidad del esposo si no desde un enfoque más familiar que nos permite involucrarnos más en todos los procesos”. (Entrevista individual: DIVA MARÍA PINEDA). Así también lo comenta Rubiela Osorio (47), quien también lleva 25 años como caficultora y dice que “este proceso nos ha brindado herramientas que fomentan el liderazgo de nosotras y nuestro empoderamiento para enfrentar retos y tener nuevas ideas”. (Entrevista individual: RUBIELA OSORIO PERDOMO)
Luz López (44), madre de dos hijos destaca que el aprendizaje más grande que ha sacado de esta experiencia es entender la importancia del liderazgo en la toma de decisiones y menciona que se sienten más empoderadas para seguir trabajando en la reducción de las brechas de género. (Entrevista individual: LUZ NIDIA LÓPEZ PARRA)
Estas mujeres quienes coinciden en que son muchas las dificultades que han experimentado en su trabajo durante las décadas de experiencia que han acumulado en la producción de café y ven en el GE Add-On una oportunidad para generar un impacto positivo no solo en la vida de las mujeres, sino también en sus comunidades. Sus expectativas para el futuro se enfocan en la posibilidad de vender café diferenciado con un enfoque de género, generar productos derivados con su propia marca y mejorar sus estructuras asociativas para alcanzar mayor estabilidad económica y mejorar su calidad de vida.
Dando respuesta a estas expectativas el Complemento 4C de Igualdad de Género se presenta como una herramienta para empoderar a las mujeres caficultoras y seguir trabajando en la transformación de las normas sociales relacionadas con el género. La participación de este grupo de agricultoras sienta un precedente significativo en la transformación para la igualdad de género en la industria cafetera colombiana.
Continuar respaldando iniciativas que promuevan la igualdad de género en la producción de café es crucial para generar un cambio sostenible en la industria. Apoyar a los proveedores de café verde en la adopción del Complemento de Igualdad de Género 4C y en la implementación de mejoras recomendadas es un paso directo hacia un café más sostenible y un compromiso real con la igualdad de género.
Únase a nosotros en este camino hacia la igualdad de género. Juntos, podemos marcar la diferencia y mejorar las condiciones en la producción de café a nivel mundial. Para comenzar, contáctenos en info@4c-services.org.
In response to valuable feedback received from stakeholders during the public consultation period from January to April 2023, 4C has undertaken a comprehensive review of its Gender Equality (GE) Add-On, making significant updates to enhance its practical application and relevance in diverse contexts.
The feedback, primarily received from Certification Bodies (CBs) conducting initial audits and Managing Entities (ME) undergoing GE certification of groups of farmers, as well as other interested parties, highlighted crucial aspects related to the application, local conditions, and the clarity of normative documents, particularly within the Colombian context.
The new version of the 4C Gender Equality Add-On System Document V 1.1. will be valid from 1.1.2024.
Key Changes Made:
| Feedback Obtained: | Changes Made: | |
| 4C Glossary: | Definition lacking for GE-specific terms, e.g., immediate family members. | Added GE Add-On relevant terms to improve clarity. |
| 4C GE Checklist:
|
Insecurities regarding when certain checkpoints can be considered non applicable (marked as N/A) and uncertainties in interpreting specific checkpoints.
|
Provided additional explanations in the verification guidance. Optimized wording of checkpoints to address all target groups, including women, men, boys, and girls. |
| BPM GE:
|
Difficulties in collecting and maintaining disaggregated data; challenges in systematically analyzing the collected data.
|
Adjusted the tabs in the BPM that are designated to collect disaggregated data. Adjustments were made in the purpose of improving user-friendliness, organization and clarity of data. Additionally, the analysis conducted via the BPM upload and analysis tool was extended to display the disaggregated data in a useful way. |
| 4C Gender Equality Add-On Regulations:
|
Questions on the term “Gender Equality” versus “Gender Equity”; uncertainties about handling the Improvement Plan (IP) for core certification and IP_GE; uncertainties about specific terms and monitoring of IP_GE. | Added further term definitions and explanations how to fill in the BPM_GE. Details on the particularities of the IP_GE were added, as well as further explanations on how to define the risk level for GE audits.
|
| Newly Developed: Guidance Document for Auditors on Vulnerable Groups:
|
Need for additional guidance on how data obtained from the BPM_GE feeds into the risk assessment for GE audits.
|
Developed a dedicated guidance document with guiding questions to assist auditors through the process, emphasizing a holistic approach to assessing vulnerable groups |
These revisions and additions underscore 4C’s commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring that the GE Add-On is established as a robust and adaptable tool for promoting gender equality across diverse coffee production settings.
For further details or inquiries, we encourage you to reach out for clarification on the updated documents: info@4c-services.org
Bonn, Germany – July 7th, 2023: Today, the Global Coffee Platform officially announced its recognition of 4C as equivalent to the GCP Coffee Sustainability Reference Code (Coffee SR Code) in the category of 3rd party assurance.
As Norbert Schmitz, the Managing Director of 4C stated: “Being recognized by GCP’s Equivalence Mechanism 2.0 holds immense significance for 4C. Receiving this recognition reinforces 4C position as a reliable and comprehensive 3rd party certification system and strengthens our commitment to collaborating with the coffee sector to advance sustainability. We are dedicated to continuing working closely with GCP and other stakeholders to drive positive change, creating a more sustainable future for coffee.”
The Equivalence Mechanism, Coffee SR Code, and GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases were developed by GCP to establish a sector-wide understanding of the foundations for coffee sustainability. They aim to provide a common language and a recognized framework for sustainability in green coffee production and processing. The Equivalence Mechanism 2.0, released by GCP in November of last year proposed stricter sustainability and operational criteria. As a result, 4C has been reevaluating and aligning its system to remain equivalent to the Coffee SR Code and the Operational Criteria of EM 2.0. The assessment was conducted in collaboration with the International Trade Centre to ensure the integrity of the process.
Upon successful assessment and recognition by GCP, 4C is now again eligible to be included in the annual GCP Collective Reporting on Sustainable Coffee Purchases. This reporting initiative serves as a means for roasters and retailers to align their practices and contribute to global coffee sustainability efforts. The recognition process by GCP’s Equivalence Mechanism 2.0 is an important step to provide a sector-wide reference for sustainability in the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable green coffee production and processing worldwide. According to Annette Pensel, GCP Executive Director, the Global Coffee Platform “applauds the action by these GCP Members to step up and align their sustainability schemes through the Coffee SR Code and GCP Equivalence Mechanism.”
Colombian coffee is prized for its complex yet well-balanced flavor profiles and high-quality Arabica beans. The country’s reputation for high standards has helped it become one of the most popular choices among the three billion cups consumed daily and the third-largest coffee producer in the world, according to the International Trade Commission.
However, the younger generation is turning away from coffee production due to several social, environmental, and economic challenges. Socially, many young adults view agriculture, including coffee farming, as lacking development prospects that align with their aspirations. Moreover, coffee cultivation is no longer considered a profitable business due to various factors such as unstable coffee prices, limited access to more lucrative markets, and climate change-related issues like pests, low production, and loss of biodiversity. These factors are compounded by the lack of access to modern technologies and financing options, as well as limited education in rural areas, which hinder young people’s ability to improve their production and increase their resilience to these challenges.
To address this concerning trend, 4C partnered with Melitta Europe GmbH & Co. KG – Coffee Division to launch a three-year sustainability project, “Improving the working and living conditions of small coffee farmers” in Colombia’s Magdalena Department.
View from one of the coffee farms in Magdalena
“During our initial assessments, we found the Magdalena Department had the greatest need for intervention,” said Kristin Lipps, Sustainability Manager at 4C. “Within the coffee-growing regions analyzed in Colombia, this department has some of the highest rates of rural poverty, youth unemployment and lack of access to education in rural areas. This discourages the younger generation from getting involved in coffee cultivation and thus keeping the local tradition alive. Our aim with this project is to make the sector more attractive to young adults, contributing to the long-term economic and ecological viability of small coffee farms”.
Along with enhancing sustainable agricultural practices and market uptake, the project partners developed various courses that seek to professionalize young adults aged 18-30 in Magdalena’s coffee communities, helping them to diversify their income through non-farming activities
Magdalena is a region renowned for its diverse landscapes, ranging from the vast plains in the south to the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea in the north and the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range at its heart. It is in the lush tropical foothills of these mountains that the department’s more than 4,000 coffee farmers are found but only 4% of them are under the age of 30. Recognizing the potential of the scenic landscape, combined with the interest of visitors to Colombia to learn about coffee cultivation and processing, the focus of the first course was on the development of tourism activities. This aims to provide young people with alternatives and tools to diversify their income through non-agricultural activities, while contributing to the sustainable development of the coffee sector in Colombia. Besides offering accommodation and various activities for tourists, the young adults also took initiative to diversify their product range.
The course focused on ecotourism through online sessions conducted in spring 2022. The topics included community tourism and agrotourism, product development and package design, sustainable innovation, storytelling, and digital strategies. Additionally, the 138 participants had the opportunity to present their already-developed tourism projects to help them adapt the lessons to their individual needs.
Gina Alejandra Rodríguez during the Coffee & Tourism course
“The diploma course has allowed me to learn many more aspects about coffee and how to complement it with tourism, since these can go hand-in-hand,” says Gina Alejandra Rodríguez, a 22-year-old multi-generational coffee grower.
Besides offering accommodation and various activities for tourists, the young adults also took initiative to diversify their product range. For instance, some developed their own coffee brand, directly selling the roasted and packaged coffee to the consumer or started making other products from coffee beans such as tea, sweets, spread or even jewelry. Another product they are developing further is honey made by bees on the coffee farms. These products are sold in local coffee shops where freshly brewed coffee, desserts and cakes are offered.
During the course, Rodríguez presented an agrotourism project that she and her family are implementing on their farm, which offers lodging services, ecological hikes and bird watching parallel to their regular coffee production activities. Rodríguez notes that she wants this project “to be an example for my community” by encouraging other young people to venture into new initiatives to advance their livelihoods.
In addition, to uphold Colombian coffee’s high quality, young adults participated in a coffee quality and tasting course which took place in September 2022. It was an immersive experience for the 60 participants, taking them deep into the world of coffee assessment and sensory analysis. From learning about quality assessment, and coffee threshing, to recognizing flavor profiles and defects in the coffee. The participants gained an in-depth knowledge of physical evaluation and sensory analysis methods. In addition, they received equipment to continue practicing at home and a self-study course to further hone their skills.
Yesenia Gómez Almanza, a 29-year-old coffee grower, says she believes the youth are the future of coffee production because they can “bring fresh and renewed ideas”. She highlights how learning skills like coffee evaluation are critical for Colombia’s coffee sector to grow, especially in Magdalena. “[The course] was very important, rewarding and enriching, as it allowed us to learn how the coffee production process affects the quality of the coffee,” Gómez Almanza says.
Participants of Quality & Coffee Tasting course in September 2022
Another course in February 2023 covered website development and marketing strategies. The one-day in-presence course was requested by those with already developed tourism initiatives following the ecotourism course. Many of the participants currently use social media for advertising their projects, but they want to close digital gaps by learning how to create and maintain a website to bring in more international customers.
Young adults practicing coffee tasting
The final course spans two days in February and March 2023. It will focus on business and entrepreneurship skills like conducting value chain analysis, understanding their business models, developing future business plans and exploring strengths and weaknesses.
With these different training courses, the project is taking a comprehensive approach to empower young coffee farmers in Magdalena with the skills and knowledge they need to make their businesses thrive.
The project—co-financed by DEG Impulse gGmbH with funds from the develoPPP program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)—will be completed in April 2023. Alongside the training designed to motivate around 250 young adults to remain part of a sustainable coffee production process, the project seeks to improve approximately 500 coffee producers’ agricultural practices to achieve better yields of certified sustainable and deforestation-free climate-compatible coffee. Activities included visiting and providing individual consultation to farmers and conducting group trainings covering various topics adjusted to the current season and needs of the farmers. Further these farmers achieved the 4C certification in the course of the project. Additionally, Melitta Coffee began sourcing the beans produced by these farmers in early 2022; this coffee is part of the Selection of the Year 2023.
Find more information here: https://www.4c-services.org/about/project-portfolio/
Colombia is the third-largest coffee producer in the world with more than half a million families living from its cultivation. In addition to its undeniable relevance for the national economy, coffee is cultivated in some of the most biodiverse ecosystems, linking it to important ecological values. According to the ITC (International Trade Center), the world drinks up to three billion cups of coffee a day, and this consumption is constantly increasing. While this trend should lead to improved market opportunities for its producers, the instability of green coffee prices combined with the environmental challenges derived from climate change, make it much less attractive for younger generations of Colombians to continue producing coffee. The highly complex distribution chains also mean that producers rarely receive the full benefits from the coffee sales. These conditions particularly affect small producers, who constitute more than 95% of coffee farmers in Colombia. In this context, sustainability certification addresses negative impacts of coffee cultivation on the natural environment and maximizes economic benefits for coffee growing communities by improving the competitiveness of coffee products and facilitating access to international markets.
4C (Common Code for the Coffee Community) is an independent sustainability system, whose main objective is to improve the social, economic, and environmental conditions of coffee production and processing throughout the world. The 4C certification includes independent third-party audits that verify compliance with comprehensive sustainability criteria. The creation of the 4C Code of Conduct was achieved through a participatory, transparent, and balanced consultation process involving various coffee industry stakeholders. At the end of 2021, already more than 300,000 coffee producers around the world have obtained 4C certification.
Giovanny Puerta Becerra: beneficiary coffee grower of the 4C project
Recognizing the challenges faced by coffee producers in Colombia, 4C and Melitta Europe GmbH & Co. KG – Coffee Division – initiated the joint project “Improving the working and living conditions of small coffee farmers in Colombia” in mid-2020. It is co-financed by DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH with funds from the develoPPP program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Improving sustainable agricultural management
Since the start of the project a combination of group, individual, online, and in-person trainings have been conducted by 4C and its implementing partner the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC). Until mid of March 2022, 386 coffee growers have received technical assistance on applying best management practices during individual farm trainings. In addition, online and in-person group trainings have been conducted to support coffee growers in improving agricultural practices and techniques for processing coffee. Among others, the group trainings covered topics like dry and wet processing, marketing strategies, coffee farms renovation, soil management, and occupational health and safety. Moreover, in preparation for the 4C audit, trainings on how to fulfill the requirements of the 4C Code of Conduct were held at the farms and during online workshops.
Kenny Gutierrez y Kelly Olaya, project field officers conducting a group training in Vista de Nieve, Santa Marta district
In 2022 the support for coffee growers in the Magdalena region will continue while the aim is also to spread the learnings to further beneficiaries and enable them to gradually improve their management practices and maintain the 4C certification. This will be done through additional visits to farms and group trainings. The group trainings will be conducted by farmer leaders, who are themselves beneficiaries of the project and will share their knowledge to fellow farmers. These farmer leaders were selected based on their commitment to the project and promoting sustainability within the community. Furthermore, the project beneficiaries will also be supported financially to make necessary investments to implement the learnings from the trainings.
4C certification and improved access to European markets
The 4C audit took place between the 2nd and 6th of November 2021 and 437 coffee growers representing 455 small scale farms successfully passed the audit and received the 4C certification. This key result promotes sustainable coffee production in the region, while also raising awareness for the conservation of primary forests and protected areas. It also strengthens the protection of human and labor rights, while fostering more efficient and profitable coffee production. After implementing the improvements to achieve 4C certification, the project beneficiaries were satisfied with the changes they observed on their farms. Walter Guevara, a coffee farmer from Cienaga municipality emphasized: “4C motivates us to conserve the environment and be more organized, which is perhaps something that we have not been doing very much, and above all, it motivates the young people to adopt these practices that are fundamental to conserve nature and to develop ourselves.”
At the beginning of this year, Melitta acquired a first shipment of traceable 4C certified coffee from the beneficiaries of this project at a premium price. Another purchase is expected during the next harvest period lasting from October 2022 to January 2023. The level of premiums that these sales offer to local coffee growers provides a higher profitability, allowing them to cover their operational costs and generate an attractive income. This also enables them to maintain a high level of environmental protection that secures the future for coffee production in the region. The response of the project beneficiaries following the sale of coffee to Melitta was very positive. Alvaro Serrano, a coffee farmer from Cienaga Municipality, noted that “the price premium that the 4C proposal represents here is not offered by anyone else.”
Increasing the attractiveness of the sector for young adults
An additional focus of the project in 2022 is to improve opportunities in the coffee sector for young people in the community. From the end of March 2022, around 100 young adults will participate in an extensive course on promoting ecotourism activities in coffee plantations. The course is jointly organized with FNC and with the participation of ProColombia – a government agency in charge of promoting Colombian international tourism. It will run for around two months and consists of a series of in-person and online training sessions. Participants will be guided by experts from the tourism industry to acquire the necessary knowledge to develop, adapt and strengthen their own tourism business proposal to attract the interest of international markets. Among others, some topics to be covered are strategic business planning, storytelling, marketing, and costing.
Other activities for young adults are planned for this year and include trainings on barista skills, coffee tasting, and entrepreneurship. Young adults will also be supported financially to enable them to implement the learnings from the trainings. “I really like that 4C is motivating our rural youth who were discouraged from continuing with coffee growing and showing them that coffee can indeed be a profitable alternative, and that we ourselves can find a good price for it with the help of 4C certification,” said Diego Hernandez a coffee farmer from Santa Marta Municipality, located in the project region Magdalena.
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Creando puentes entre los pequeños caficultores colombianos y el mercado europeo