EcolabelIndex

4C Association

4C Association logo

The 4C Association is a multi-stakeholder organization that brings together actors that are committed to addressing the sustainability issues of the coffee sector in a pre-competitive manner. The members of the 4C Association include coffee farmers (both big and small), traders (importers and exporters), industry players (coffee roasters and retailers) and civil society (non-governmental organizations, standard setting initiatives and trade unions). Members also include individuals committed to the Association’s aims.

The 4C Association mission is to be the leading multi-stakeholder sustainable coffee platform, guiding the sector towards mainstream sustainability in a pre-competitive arena where all relevant stakeholders are enabled to participate. It provides a recognized baseline standard as a first step in continuous improvement towards sustainability; promotes and partners with other standards and initiatives in the market, and addresses the broader coffee sustainability agenda. The 4C vision is to unite all relevant coffee stakeholders in working towards the improvement of the economic, social and environmental conditions of coffee production and processing to build a sustainable sector for generations to come.

Using the 4C Logo on coffee packs is not allowed since the 4C Mainstream Approach does not imply any product guarantee. Coffee roasters however may use the 4C Membership Statement to point out their membership and their commitment for a more sustainable coffee sector.

Learn more: 4C Association websiteExternal Site

Conformity assessment | How is compliance with this ecolabel's standard ensured?

Conformity with 4C Association's standard is verified by an independent organization (third party) following ISO / IEC Guide 65 Product Certification, As full member of the ISEAL Alliance, 4C Association will adhere to its Assurance Code, once finalized. Verifiers will have to follow respective requirements.

Certification / registration required

Applicants are certified against the ecolabels’s criteria before using the label

Managing organization | Who manages this ecolabel?

Name

4C Association

Member of

ISEAL, Other

Type

Non-profit

Also manages

None.

Organization type: International, non-profit membership association

Member of: German Coffee Association (DKV)


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Ecolabel details | What are the characteristics of the standard(s) related to this ecolabel?

  • Applicable life cycle and supply chain phases
  • Social and environmental attributes
  • Mutual recognition with other ecolabels
  • Standard details, including standard document, review frequency

Ecolabel development | How were the standards for this ecolabel developed?

  • Standard development and management process
  • Standard-setting norms followed for development of the ecolabel's standard
  • Type of standard-setting process, external stakeholders, and funding sources

Conformity Assessment | How is compliance with this ecolabel's standard ensured?

  • Requirements to achieve certification (i.e. chain of custody, site visits, metrics)
  • Audit / surveillance requirements
  • Duration of certification, time to achieve certification

Managing organization | Who manages this ecolabel?

  • Contact details, primary contact
  • Organizational details including year established, funding, and governance

Additional information | Including:

  • Compliance type (pass / fail / tiered)
  • Target audience (consumers / retailers / manufacturers / etc)

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Key data

Year ecolabel est. 2004

Classification | Who, what, where

Product categories this ecolabel applies to
Food

Other categories: Coffee


Where this ecolabel is found
Unknown



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Last updated: 19 March 2020