The EU, for example, requires evidence that cocoa has not been sourced from deforested lands. “However, for future generations to also have the chance to enjoy chocolate, the industry needs to make sure that cocoa production continues to be possible, supporting farmers to mitigate the impacts of climate change, to ensure farmers earn a sustainable livelihood and cover their costs and to protect the people cultivating the cocoa,” she says. “Many cocoa farmers in West Africa earn less than one dollar a day and there is still clear evidence of child and forced labour as well as deforestation in cocoa- producing countries. “Consumers are increasingly looking
for ethical labels to ensure that they are not funding these practices through their purchases. In many markets civil society and governments are now working together with businesses to drive more sustainable cocoa. To be part of the solution, rather than perpetuating the problem, it is important that chocolatiers think hard about how their cocoa and chocolate is being sourced,” she warns.
Production consequences According to Surmaya Talyarkhan, Senior Sustainable Sourcing Manager for Cocoa at Fairtrade, the ethics of sourcing for cocoa and chocolate need to consider the social, economic and environmental consequences of its production. This could, for example, include whether the farmers producing the cocoa earn enough to feed their families, whether forests are cut down to grow the cocoa, or whether there have been human rights abuses, such as trafficking, in the supply chain.
Surmaya highlights that, while schemes that label chocolate bars as ‘sustainable’ or
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‘ethical’ are on the rise each scheme is different and has differing levels of impact. She says: “The Competition and Markets Authority has strengthened requirements around ‘greenwashing’ to help ensure that schemes give a realistic account of their impacts to consumers, Governments are now increasingly regulating supply chains to ensure that what is sold in their markets does not have harmful consequences for the environment or the people who produce it, for instance on human rights or deforestation.” Surmaya went on to point out that
compliance with legislation is vital to ensure that chocolate can be sold in today’s markets.
Independent schemes Ethical claims can be hard to verify and, in an industry where businesses increasingly run their own sustainability schemes, there are fewer incentives to interrogate and evaluate their performance. It is important to point out that Fairtrade certification schemes are independent from the businesses certified and so can take a more objective approach. Therefore, independent auditing and standard setting are key things to consider, as is the governance of the sustainability schemes. “At Fairtrade, 50% of our General Assembly is made up of Fairtrade farmers and workers, who are best placed to make decisions about what change is needed,” Surmaya points out. In the cocoa industry just a handful of highly profitable companies control the majority of cocoa trading. It is well- recognised in the industry that cocoa farmers need to earn a living income. Approaches to addressing this include increasing prices so that farmers can earn more, offering long term contracts to provide income stability, as well as improving productivity so that they can sell more. In addition, diversifying crop production can offer alternative income streams to reduce the reliance on brief, and sometimes unpredictable, cocoa seasons. “At Fairtrade, we believe poverty is at
the root of the human rights issues and environmental risks in the cocoa industry,
Kennedy’s Confection December/January 2023/24 45
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