4C Certified producers could provide 12 per cent of today’s coffee supply

The 4C Association released its 2011 report on 28 June, showing that 455,000 farmers and workers in 79 coffee producing countries have been independently verified as complying with the 4C Code of Conduct. The aggregate production potential of these producers amounts to over 15 million bags of 4C Compliant Coffee, representing nearly 12 per cent of today’s global coffee supply, the 4C Association noted. On the demand side, the report states that purchases of 4C Compliant Coffee more than doubled during the coffee year 2010-11 compared to the previous period, reaching 810,291 bags. “It is very encouraging to see that the volumes of verified and certified coffee are growing steadily and that more and more companies are committing to sustainable purchasing,” says Melanie Rutten-Sülz, 4C Executive Director. “However, there is still a lot of untapped potential to advance sustainability in the sector by bringing actors together.” In addition to promoting its own baseline standard and verification system, the 4C Association also collaborates closely with other sustainability initiatives such as UTZ Certified and the Rainforest Alliance, which are both 4C Members. “The 4C Association is committed to be the platform that enables all coffee stakeholders to join together in forging long-term solutions through joint projects and partnerships,” says Rutten-Sülz. Membership in the 4C Association also grew by nearly 25 per cent, with 167 members as of 1 June 2012, over the same period in 2011. The most significant growth in membership was reported among coffee producers, traders and roasters.