About us

4C (Common Code for the Coffee Community) is a sustainability certification scheme for the coffee industry.

4C certification focuses on good agricultural and management practices, including requirements on economic, social and environmental conditions for coffee production and processing in order to establish credible sustainable and transparent supply chains. Independent certification bodies verify compliance with the 4C requirements.

4C was developed in a comprehensive and transparent multi-stakeholder process involving coffee producers, trade, industry as well as various civil society organizations from around the world.

The aim of 4C is to move the entire coffee sector towards sustainability.

4C operates in 20 countries and is the largest certification system in the coffee sector. It is also a highly innovative standard working on a variety of crucial topics, including among others reduction, in- and offsetting of carbon footprint, biodiversity improvement and empowering women in coffee.