4C Conference Tokyo 2025
📅 Date: 22 January 2025, 08:30 – 14:00
📍 Venue: Grand Nikko Hotel, 2-6-1 Daiba Minato-ku, Tokyo
Elevating Sustainability in the Japanese Coffee and Cocoa Market 2025
The 4C Regional Stakeholder Conference Tokyo 2025 brought together key industry players to
Simultaneous translation between English and Japanese ensured an inclusive discussion among importers, roasters, retailers, sustainability experts, and researchers.
Key Takeaways:
The event sparked transformative discussions around:
- Building deforestation-free supply chains and ensuring responsible sourcing practices.
- Reducing emissions through the 4C Carbon Footprint Add-On and driving climate action.
- Empowering smallholders in producing countries to enhance sustainability and livelihoods.
- Navigating evolving regulatory landscapes with confidence and strategic alignment.
The key outcome of this event was a renewed, collective commitment to responsible sourcing, combating climate change, and empowering producers globally. Participants, including representatives from producing countries, emphasized the need for collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility to achieve meaningful progress in sustainability.
Below is an overview of the agenda points
| Welcome Speeches Dr. Norbert Schmitz, Managing Director, 4C Services Prof. Yuya Kajikawa, University of Tokyo |
| Sourcing of Sustainable Coffee and Cocoa for the Japanese Market Dr. Norbert Schmitz, Managing Director, 4C Services |
| Due Diligence Regulations and Sustainable Trade: Global Positions and Implications for the Japanese Market Ms. Viet Ha Nguyen, Senior Sustainability Manager, 4C |
| Innovative Solutions to Sustainable and Responsible Coffee and Cocoa Production – 4C Carbon Footprint Add-On: How to Source Climate-Friendly Coffee and Reduce Carbon Footprints Mr. Kedar Nepal, Senior Sustainability Manager, 4C – Life Cycle Assessment in the Coffee Sector Mr. Tommy Sekiguchi, Collaborative Researcher, University of Tokyo – Sustainable Coffee Challenge and Landscape Approach Ms. Yuriko Matsumoto, Conservation International Japan |
| Case Study: Joint Journey with 4C and Sustainable Coffee Sourcing Mr. Duc Huy Le, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Simexco Daklak Ltd. |
| New Endeavours and Perspectives Adding Value with 4C Certification: Enhancing Sustainable and Deforestation-Free Cocoa Production Dr. Norbert Schmitz, Managing Director, 4C Sustainable Packaging Innovations: Opportunities with Bio-Based and Circular Solutions for Lower GHG Emissions Dr. Jan Henke, Director, ISCC Systems GmbH |
| Panel Discussion: Japanese Market and Sustainability, Responsible Coffee Sourcing Featuring: – Mr. Ryota Ito, Chief Sustainability Officer, Horiguchi Coffee, Inc – Mr. Santiago Sabogal Troncoso, Green Coffee Manager, National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC) – Mr. Duc Huy Le, Chairman of Board of Directors, Simexco Daklak Ltd. – Mr. Tommy Sekiguchi, Collaborative Researcher, University of Tokyo Moderated by 4C Services |
| Closing Remarks Dr. Norbert Schmitz, Managing Director, 4C |
| Networking and Consultations Attendees engaged in networking opportunities and participated in in-person consultation meetings with Japanese-English translation assistance available. |
Media Gallery
