FAIR
CHOCOLATE
Chocolate only really tastes great if you know that your choco cravings contribute less to warming up of our planet. That is why we fight for chocolate that does not melt the earth. We make the most delicious plant-based chocolate and work together with cocoa farmers to combat deforestation.
OUR COCOA
Our cocoa comes from West Africa, specifically Ivory Coast. Although cocoa is an important source of income for farmers in this region, it is often accompanied by issues such as poverty, deforestation, and child labor.
We source our cocoa through a traceable and sustainable network. This means we can precisely track the origin of the cocoa beans back to the farmers in our network. In this way, we know where the cocoa comes from and what is happening in our production chain.
COMBATTING DEFORESTATION
Farmers in West Africa often lack the resources and knowledge to properly maintain their land. As a result, the soil becomes depleted, leading to lower yields. To maintain their income, they expand their agricultural land, sometimes at the expense of the rainforest. This has negative consequences for nature and the climate.
To combat deforestation, we use GPS technology to accurately map the boundaries of cocoa plantations. If changes occur beyond these boundaries, we can quickly intervene and take corrective action if necessary.
Additionally, the Rainforest Alliance requires farmers to plant more native trees and encourages agroforestry, where shade trees are planted among cocoa plants. This protects nature and enhances biodiversity.
MORE SUSTAINABLE FARMING
Registered farmers in our network
Farmers received training
Of farms mapped
using GPS
empowering farmers
Farmers receive training to improve the productivity and health of their plantations, ensuring that future generations can continue to make a living from growing cocoa. For example, they learn about the importance of pruning for the health of the cocoa trees, which improves both yield and quality.
Additionally, farmers receive a premium on top of the market price for cocoa. They have the freedom to choose how to spend this premium: on investments for their farm, their family, or other expenses.
Kuadio Bonaventure
Kouadio increased his production thanks to the training he received. In fact, his cocoa plantation was doing so well that he was able to hire two people who now work for him.
Brou Alfred
Brou managed to double his income thanks to his better farming practices. He bought a bicycle with the extra money, so that he no longer has to walk to work.
ELIMINATING CHILD LABOR
Unfortunately, child labor remains a significant issue in the cocoa sector in West Africa. On Rainforest Alliance-certified farms, child labor is strictly prohibited. However, more is being done than just imposing a ban: they work closely with farmers to actively prevent and address child labor.
Farms establish internal committees to ensure that children attend school and are not working in the fields. If a case of child labor is discovered, immediate measures are taken to resolve the issue and prevent it from happening again.
