Firstly, the farmers must exclude the ten Unacceptable Practices:
Then, farmers measure their performance and progress against 28 principles. The Association’s criteria are set out in an easy to understand traffic light system of red, yellow and green. Red means “to be discontinued”, yellow means “to be improved” and green indicates that compliance has been achieved with the highest level of sustainability in the Code.
This system helps coffee farmers easily identify areas where they are on track, and where they require more work and attention, and guides them on their journey towards sustainability.
Example: Principle 4, Social Dimension and the respective Criteria:
“Children have the right to childhood and education”
Green | Yellow | Red |
Children’s rights to childhood and education are implemented. | Deliberate efforts to remove children from work and get them into education are evident. | There are no measures to encourage the education of children. |
It is important to note that farmers have to be part of a 4C Unit and score an average of yellow practices, confirmed by independent third-party verification, before being able to market 4C Compliant Coffee. This means there can be some red indicators, as long as there are an equal number of green indicators. More red indicators than green are not acceptable. Over time all practices are expected to progress to green.
To see the full list of 28 principles, download the Illustrated Guide to the 4C Code of Conduct.
The term 4C Unit refers to the producing groups that produce 4C Compliant Coffee. The 4C Unit is flexible in its set up. A 4C Unit can be a group of small-scale farmers who agree to register jointly, an already organised group such as a cooperative or a farmers’ association, a collecting station, a mill, a local trader, an export organisation, or even a roaster (as long as it is based in a country where coffee is produced).
Basically, there are only three prerequisites for establishing a 4C Unit:
For example if you are a producer with a production capacity of at least one container of green coffee, you can register yourself as a 4C Unit. If you produce less than that, you could join an established 4C Unit or establish a new 4C Unit with other small-scale farmers. Another possible scenario is that you are an exporter and decide to establish a 4C Unit with your suppliers.
Within a 4C Unit, any person in direct contact with the coffee is referred to as a Business Partner. A person or company that provides other services related to the production of the coffee and has direct contact with the cherries or the green coffee – a pesticides spraying company for example – is also considered a Business Partner.
4C Compliant Coffee is coffee originating from verified 4C Units and traded by members of the Association along the 4C coffee chain.
In line with the 4C Association’s membership concept, all actors along this supply chain have to be part of the 4C system in order to maintain the identity of 4C Compliant Coffee and enable traceability. Independent verifiers check that 4C Units meet the 4C baseline sustainability standards. 4C Trade and Industry Members commit to buying increasing volumes of 4C Compliant Coffee.
No. The 4C system works in line with the regular market mechanisms of supply and demand. There is no fixed premium or fixed price for coffee supplied by verified 4C Units.
However, 4C Compliant Coffee is not just “any coffee,” it has an added value that derives from the fact that it has been produced, processed and traded applying baseline sustainability criteria. Buyers recognize this additional value and suppliers are in a better position to negotiate the price for their 4C Compliant Coffee.
Moreover, the 4C Association sustainability approach helps farmers to apply better agricultural, processing and management practices. This results in increased yields, improved quality and reduced costs for farmers, helping them to improve their incomes.
No, the 4C Association does not use a product label. A product label or seal usually serves as a guarantee for a certain set of criteria towards consumers. Coffee in a labelled package communicates that it has been produced to meet certain standards, using certification to ensure the correctness of this claim. Label-based initiatives have their coffee and farms "certified".
4C as a baseline standard is different. Its main concept is the improvement process. That is why the 4C Association works with independent third-party verifiers to make sure that its members have implemented mechanisms to both measure their improvement process and to assure that they meet a baseline level of sustainability. On coffee packs, consumers might read that the roaster supports the 4C sustainability approach.
