What is it?
Certification scheme issued or operated by 4C Services GmbH.
Regulatory recognitionWidely used baseline certification for mainstream coffee
Standards & schemes · Certification scheme
4C Certification
4C Services GmbH
Which version is current?
Profile version 2. Official information last verified 22 August 2026.
Who and what does it cover?
- Geography
- Global
- Sectors
- Coffee (cocoa pilot)
- Scope
- Farm / unit
What does it require?
Entry-level sustainability certification for coffee (economic, social, environmental criteria across 12 principles), positioned below RA/Fairtrade as a mainstream baseline.
What it does not demonstrateThe scheme does not by itself prove that a particular product, site or organisation holds a current certificate; its scope and validity must be checked.
How is conformity assessed?
Third-party audits every 3 years
Grievance mechanism4C grievance/complaints mechanism
Who makes the decision?
4C Services GmbH
Assurance arrangementThird-party audits every 3 years
Chain of custody
Mass-balance
ISEAL membershipISEAL member
Conditional relationships
Claims it may support
A relationship does not mean that the standard proves or validates every use of a claim.
100% sustainably sourced coffee by 2025” (target claim)May support · Requires a current valid certificate within the scheme's scope; certification supports but does not by itself prove the claim — wording must reflect certified scope and assurance level.see standards.last_verifiedEthically sourced coffeeMay support · Requires a current valid certificate within the scheme's scope; certification supports but does not by itself prove the claim — wording must reflect certified scope and assurance level.see standards.last_verified
Legal context
Laws referencing it
No reviewed law references are published.
Dictionary
Dictionary concepts
No reviewed dictionary cross-link is published.
Version record
What has changed
- Version 2Initial profile published after recorded site-owner/editor review of the complete standards batch.
- Version 1Initial private editorial draft imported from the reviewed standards handover.
Last verified 22 August 2026. This neutral profile is informational and does not recommend, rank or endorse the standard.