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Cocoa
Creating a fair and sustainable cocoa sector
Our challenges related to the cocoa sector
The cocoa sector faces major challenges, which is why we are building our ambitions around three major axes:
- improving the living and working conditions of farmers,
- protecting the environment
- preserving the soil and flavors.
These pillars focus on major commitments, such as improving the incomes of farmers and their families, fighting against all forms of forced labor, particularly child labor, protecting forests and biodiversity, and our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2025.
In order to achieve these objectives, we are setting up long-term partnerships with women and men who share our values working in the field within cocoa-producing companies or cooperatives. We have developed direct relationships in 14 countries around the world.
Our objectives and progress
100% Traceability
for our cocoa beans from the producer.
69% traceability
for cocoa beans from the farm parcel. Target: 100% by 2025.
64% of the producer countries
visited at least once per calendar year. Target: 100% by 2025.
14 out of our 15 source countries
are part of a long-term partnership.
100% of our cocoa
purchased through a partnership of at least 3 years.
8.3 years
average length of a partnership.
100% of producers suppported
in adopting agroforestry practices by 2025.
Long term partnerships
At Valrhona, we work to create a fair and sustainable cocoa sector by building close, mutually beneficial relationships with our 17,215 cocoa producers. We do this by forging long-term partnerships with producer organizations who share our vision and focus on quality and traceability.
From the construction of housing and schools to the protection of rare cocoa varieties, the projects we carry out together reflect our commitment to producing communities and the environment.
Traceability
At Valrhona, 100% of our cocoa is traced from our 17,215 producers around the world.
This traceability is the basis for creating a fair and sustainable industry.
It allows us to know where our cocoa comes from, who harvested it and under what conditions.
This helps to improve the living and working conditions of producers and to fight against deforestation, while guaranteeing the quality of our cocoa beans.
Preserving the soil and flavors
We aim to maintain the diversity of the tastes we offer. The soil, climate, genetic diversity of plants and human expertise shape the tastes and subtleties of agricultural products. Participating in sustainable sectors also involves preserving and identifying new tastes and cocoa varieties that are part of the national heritage of our partner countries. These projects help create jobs in rural areas and boost the agricultural sector. For us, these projects will also be sources of innovation in order to offer new chocolates and inspire our customers.
Improving living and working conditions
Understanding the needs of our farmers is at the heart of what our team does every day. These needs come from our partners
who we rely on to make sure our activities are relevant and legitimate.
Education and combatting child labor
Child labor is a major problem facing the entire cocoa and chocolate sector. Due to our belief that to have the greatest impact any action must be collective, we joined the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) in 2017. The ICI is a foundation dedicated to protecting children in cocoa-growing communities which works to ensure a better future for children and their families.
Key figures
- 4 schools were built or renovated in 3 countries (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Venezuela)
- 20 classes welcomed 672 students in good educational conditions
Protecting the forest and its biodiversity
We are committed to protecting the forests in the 15 countries where we source our cocoa.
We know that tropical farming, including of cocoa, is one of the main causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss.
This environmental damage not only contributes to climate change, but also threatens the future of our producers and supply chain.
This is why we must ensure the conservation of the environmental heritage of producer countries and work with our cocoa-producing partners to promote responsible farming.
