4C Code of Conduct operated by Coffee Assurance Services (CAS) achieves FSA Silver Level
16th April 2018
BRUSSELS, Belgium. April 17, 2018 – The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform and CAS, the operator of the 4C Verification scheme, announced today the conclusion of a benchmarking process where the 4C Code achieved ‘Silver’ equivalence with SAI Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) tool.
“This is a very positive result demonstrating a high level of alignment. We hope that this industrywide recognition provides new opportunities for both SAI Platform members and the users of the 4C Code”, said Joe Rushton, FSA Manager.
Following the interest expressed by some SAI Platform member companies, the criteria of the 4C Code were submitted for benchmarking against the FSA criteria, which has shown once again that the 4C Code measures up as a reliable framework to implement sustainable agricultural practices throughout the coffee supply chain.
“This benchmarking result confirms that users of the 4C Code, including coffee producers, traders and roasters, are supporting a standard with a high-level of recognition within the overall context of sustainable agriculture. We hope that this tool developed by SAI Platform will facilitate understanding and recognition of the 4C Code by sustainability-minded companies and consumers alike”, commented Gustavo Bacchi, Managing Director of CAS.
Implications for the Standard Recognition
The 4C Code is now supported by a universal reference, accepted by a broad range of international food and drink companies. By facilitating the recognition of the standard at the level of different market actors with their varying social codes and expectations, the benchmark broadens market accessibility for 4C verified operations.
