The mission of the 4C Common Code is to achieve global leadership by emphasizing economic, social and environmental factors in coffee cultivation. This emphasis leads to better production, processing and marketing conditions for members of the coffee sector.

4C Common Code began in 2003. This certification has representation from countries such as Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Nicaragua , Papua, New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.

Is 4C a label?

• No. 4C is No has label. It is a certification.
• The coffee and farms are certified. There are specific controls to verify that the coffee in the package meets the criteria indicated on the label.
• The packaged coffee label indicates the accuracy of a claim as coffee produced with sustainable standards. The label may say “Organic Coffee,” for example, and additional wording may indicate that the coffee is 4C certified.

How is 4C different?

• The certification acts as a reference standard. The improvement process behind the name and all the work done by the 4C Association is what makes the difference.
• 4C members implement specific processes and measurable steps to meet specific baseline levels of sustainability.
• Once again, an important distinction: On coffee packages, consumers will not see a “label” or “endorsement.” Instead, they can simply read that the roaster supports Approach 4C.

How do farmers become eligible for 4C Common Code certification?

• Coffee farmers abide by a code of conduct that is very specific in terms of unacceptable and acceptable practices.
• This code covers many social, environmental and economic principles for everyone in the coffee supply chain. For example, this includes farmers, plantations, producer organizations, ranches, mills, exporters, traders, and more.
• Following practices that emphasize sustainability of production and post-harvest processing ensures consistency across 4C Common Code certified farms. It also helps promote and adopt the code among farmers.

What are the main objectives that this certification seeks to achieve?

• The main objectives include: reducing the costs of growing coffee, improving the quality of the product and strengthening the organizational structures of coffee producers.
• In other words, optimizing the overall operational flow along the value chain, from bean to cup.
• By achieving these goals, farmers increase their income and improve their standard of living.

What makes 4C such a successful programme?

• One of the reasons why the 4C Common Code has grown so much is through word of mouth among coffee farmers, workers and producers.
• To date, more than 14,000 farmers produce coffee in accordance with 4C standards and account for around 4% of global production.
• What is very significant is that the standards have helped farmers increase their income by more than 30%.
• When farmers hear directly from other farmers how successful they are with the agricultural practices recommended by the Code of Conduct of this certification, it is very likely that they will want to know more and join the program.
• Farmers encourage each other to grow other crops such as peanuts, maize, root crops, oil palm or other natural plants along with the coffee.
• Farmers are confident that they have a ready market for their products as long as they are up to code because it sets them apart from any other farmer.

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