The Common Code for the Coffee Community
4C
Labelling 4C offers a solution to support your sustainable strategy implementing good practices across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
The Common Code for the Coffee Community guarantees:
Coffee cultivation is not contributing to deforestation or reduction of biodiversity
Good agricultural practices and the protection of soil, water and air are applied
Human, labour and land rights are respected
Farmers are sufficiently trained to increase productivity and profitability
The labelling by an independent certification body like Ecocert enables to validate the compliance of your activities according to 4C standard.
The logo can be used on-pack and off-pack (e.g. bags for green coffee beans, brochures, websites, etc.). The 4C logo and 4C related claims can be applied on-pack, provided that the product contains at least 90% of 4C certified coffee. For the start, a minimum percentage of 30% 4C certified coffee must be contained in the package, with a maximum timeframe of three years to reach 90%.
4C applies to coffee.
Managing Entity (ME) and Business Partners (BPs) which are Producers (Small and large farms) and Service Providers (traders, storage facilities, and processors operating within the 4C Unit).
Intermediary Buyer (IB): Trader, exporter, importer, processor or any other entity which trades or originates 4C certified coffee outside the 4C Unit.
Final Buyers (FB): The last actor in the supply chain purchasing 4C certified coffee (roaster, instant coffee manufacturer, private label company, retail company with private label, brand owner, coffee shop chain, or any other entity that is sourcing 4C certified coffee).
With nearly 30 years of experience for audit and certification of organic products in France and in more than 130 countries, Ecocert is the world's leading specialist in the certification of sustainable practices.