Common Code for the Coffee Community (4C Association) – Global Coffee Platform

Download the 4C Working Evaluation Report (2013) here.

This report is based on the assessment of the 4C Association in 2012-2013 using the MSI Evaluation Tool, as part of a series of pilot MSI evaluations that were conducted in conjunction with Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic.

Note: As of April, 2016, the 4C Association evolved into the Global Coffee Platform (GCP), thus terminating its commercial verification operations. While the GCP continues to be responsible for the maintenance of the Baseline Common Code, it is no longer “involved in any verification, licensing or other commercial “4C” activity of the Baseline Common Code.”

4C ASSOCIATION INFORMATION AS OF JANUARY 2014

Targeted Industry: Coffee
Stated Aim: “[T]o 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 thriving, sustainable sector for generations to come.” (4C Vision)
Historical Context: A plummet in the price of coffee in 2001-2002 led to extreme poverty and associated human rights implications.
Year Launched: 2006
Method of Operation: 4C requires that coffee producers and other supply chain members comply with its standards in order to sell 4C compliant coffee.  Buyers, such as Nestle, commit to purchasing “increasing amounts” of 4C compliant coffee.
Monitored Entities: Coffee producers and other supply chain members.
Examples of Relevant Rights-holders: Small-scale coffee producers; coffee workers, particularly seasonal or immigrant workers.
Membership (as of Dec. 31, 2013): Producers (66), trade and industry (128), civil society organizations (13).
GLOBAL COFFEE PLATFORM INFORMATION AS OF JANUARY 2017 

Targeted Industry: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (coffee)
Stated Aim: “The Global Coffee Platform is a multi-stakeholder sustainable coffee platform working towards the improvement of the economic, social and environmental conditions of coffee production and processing to build a thriving, sustainable sector for generations to come.” (Global Coffee Platform, Baseline Common Code)
Historical Context: A plummet in the price of coffee in 2001-2002 led to extreme poverty and associated human rights implications.
Year Launched: 2003
Method of Operation: GCP requires that coffee producers and other supply chain members comply with the standards outlined in the GCP Baseline Common Code.
Monitored Entities: Coffee producers and other supply chain members.
Examples of Relevant Rights-holders: Small-scale coffee producers; coffee workers, particularly seasonal or immigrant workers.
Membership (as of Dec. 31, 2016): Producers (87), Trade and Industry (158), Civil Society Organizations (11), Individual (28), Associate (29).