Within the Common Code for the Coffee Community (4C), producers, trade & industry and civil society from around the world work together for more sustainability in the entire coffee sector. This global community has joined forces to continuously improve the social, environmental and economic conditions for the people making their living with coffee.

4C has two unique selling points. Firstly, it was initiated by several large coffee companies, not by governmental or idealist movements. Secondly, 4C focus is on small steps towards sustainability. This makes it easier for companies to target the mass market and improve both the entire sector’s sustainability level and its image as a whole.

4C verification uses a traffic light system when applying its criteria. Each activity within the production process is labelled green, yellow or red. Green reflects a desirable practice. Yellow means that this practice needs to be further improved within a set transitional period. Red practices are unacceptable. However, if there is equal number of green practices, the red ones are accepted by 4C verification. In this situation, called 'average yellow', 4C requires that all red practices will become yellow or green within two years. In addition, at least one yellow practice should be turned green each following year. This way associated companies are obliged to show continuous improvement.

Fairfood in relation to 4C
Through her annual Product Fairness Questionnaire, Fairfood asks various brand owners a number of questions. Some of these questions match 4C standards. 4C also offers a set of additional criteria.4C’s approach has broad support in the coffee branch. Thanks to the requirement of continuous improvement, 4C can have an important impact on other initiatives to create coffee quality standards. Fairfood considers buying 4C certified coffee a possible solution for increasing sustainability.