5th Edition Chocolate Scorecard

MAKE THE CHOICE TO BUY BETTER CHOCOLATE

Better for people, primates and planet. 

We help you figure it out.

A better chocolate is better for people and the planet! It's free of child labor, provides a living income for cocoa farmers, empowers women, and cares for the environment.

We have surveyed the world’s chocolate companies to find out what's really going into the chocolate you buy.

Traceability and Transparency

If you can't see it, you can't fix it

There's been an increase in traceability but more work needs to be done to make sure that people and planet are not exploited 

Living Income

Almost all of the participating chocolate companies believe that a living income is a human right

But only 6 companies are paying a living income to all their farmers

Pesticides

Pesticide use remains high impacting the health and environment of farming communities

Child Labor

More child labor measures are being taken but the road to elimination is still a long one...

Deforestation and Climate

Companies are being pushed by emerging laws to take serious care of the planet. They are doing more and more, but who is paying the price?

The Scorecard

We eat chocolate for comfort, celebration and indulgence. But what’s really going into the chocolate we buy?

Explore your favorite chocolate brands. See how they compare!

BY COMPANIES

BY BRANDS

Overall

Traceability and Transparency

Living Income

Child Labor

Deforestation and Climate

Agroforestry

Pesticides

Overall

Traceability and Transparency

Living Income

Child Labor

Deforestation and Climate

Agroforestry

Pesticides

Overall

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Let us know what matters to you, and we'll match you with brands that reflect your values!

THESE ARE THE BRANDS THAT BEST MATCH WITH YOU

FEATURED

The cocoa price has doubled in mere months

The cocoa price has doubled in mere months

but it shouldn’t add much to the price of chocolate: here’s why

Resources for Cocoa Professionals

Resources for Cocoa Professionals

We’ve gathered the most reputable papers, reports and resources for cocoa professionals and individuals who just want to get into the science and economics of cocoa.

A Better Chocolate for a Sweeter World
2024/04/02

A Better Chocolate for a Sweeter World

Cocoa Lessons from Cameroon

Cocoa Lessons from Cameroon

Dec 2023

AGROFORESTRY

AGROFORESTRY

7 June 2023

TOXIC COCOA

TOXIC COCOA

7 June 2023

ASSESSING DEFORESTATION AND CLIMATE

ASSESSING DEFORESTATION AND CLIMATE

7 June 2023

THE CHOCOLATE INDUSTRY'S WEALTH DISPARITY: HOW CAN WE FIX IT?

THE CHOCOLATE INDUSTRY'S WEALTH DISPARITY: HOW CAN WE FIX IT?

6 June 2023

THE SWEET TASTE OF TRACEABLE CHOCOLATE

THE SWEET TASTE OF TRACEABLE CHOCOLATE

6 June 2023

CHILD LABOUR IN COCOA FARMING

CHILD LABOUR IN COCOA FARMING

6 June 2023

5th edition

GOOD EGG AWARDS

Congratulations!  These Good Eggs lead the industry in policy and practice. 

BAD EGG AWARDS

Showing a lack of transparency by making sustainability claims without publicly verifying them

5th edition

KRUEGER

BAD EGG AWARD

5th edition

TESCO

BAD EGG AWARD

WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT CHOCOLATE?

Cocoa is a major global driver of forest destruction.  Forests are also a key habitat for some of the most endangered species in the world, including gibbons and great apes. 

 

Agroforestry, as opposed to pesticide-soaked monoculture, is a more ecologically sound way of growing cocoa and restoring farming landscapes.

Child labor is a big issue in cocoa farms. Despite voluntary corporate efforts to eradicate it, the prevalence of child labor has increased by 14% over the past decade

We need to guarantee a living income for all farmers. It is not a reality for the vast majority of cocoa farmers and their families in West Africa

Chemicals are still widely used in agriculture. It is imperative for chocolate companies to reassess their current methods and adopt more sustainable cocoa farming practices.

   

Traceability of cocoa is essential. We need to track cocoa's origin to the country, farm group and farmer level.

WE CARE ABOUT CHOCOLATE

Because we care about people and the environment.

Chocolate is a sweet treat that we often share with people we love to celebrate a special occasion, or just to indulge a sweet moment. 

 

But often the conditions that it's made in are far from sweet.

 

When cocoa farmers and their communities are living in poverty, they deforest to clear more land to grow more cocoa. They rely on family and unpaid labor (child labor and forced labor) to make ends meets. 

 

As a result, our environment is harmed, and children's future opportunities are squandered, just to survive. 

Global Cocoa Production

Cocoa production

Min

Max

Source: United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (2020). Production, Supply and Distribution database; Ramankutty et al. (2008). Farming the planet: 2. Geographic distribution of crop areas, yields, physiological types, and net primary production in the year 2000.

Latin America
  • 969.000 T
  • Ecuador
    375.000 T
  • Brazil
    220.000 T
  • Other
    355.000 T
Africa
  • 3.665.000 T
  • Côte d'Ivoire
    2.130.000 T
  • Ghana
    689.000 T
  • Cameroon
    290.000 T
  • Nigeria
    280.000 T
  • Other
    196.000 T
Southeast Asia
  • 266.000 T
  • Indonesia
    180.000 T
  • Other
    86.000 T

Cocoa & Palm Oil

Many chocolate varieties are palm oil free and use cocoa butter which has a melting temperature close to body temperature. It gives you that creamy slow melting sensation and rich flavour as you pop it in your mouth.

Some chocolate brands use palm oil as it is relatively a cheap ingredient, and has a higher melting point, meaning that if it's used in chocolate, it's less likely to melt before you eat it in warmer climates. It produces a 'waxy' texture when you eat it and is not as rich in flavor.

The production of palm oil is problematic - for people, primates and the planet. Check out the video to find out more. 

WE CANNOT DO THIS

WORK ALONE

To create the Chocolate Scorecard we collaborate with universities, expert panel of industry consultants, and civil society groups engaging in the cocoa industry. We work with the chocolate companies, processors and retailers to be a partner to them in their journey to higher levels of transparency, better policies and practices that are the building blocks for a sweeter world in cocoa, so we can all enjoy our chocolate.

Be the Change

Be the Change

Subscribe to receive regular updates on initiatives to be the change, success stories to encourage you, and ways you can join a sweeter world for people and the planet.

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