As a chocolate lover, you should know that not all chocolates are alike. No, we’re not talking about cocoa content. Some chocolates, it seems, are “greener” than others. Greener because more chocolate manufacturers are finally facing several critical social and environmental issues that have long stigmatized the cocoa industry. What this means is that you can finally choose from a growing variety of new, “sustainable chocolate” products. But first, a little background into the cocoa industry’s darker side. Since most cocoa is grown by small family farmers in remote tropical regions, they’re often forced to sell their harvest to middlemen for a fraction of its value.
Did you know that many cocoa workers live in poverty and barely earn enough to live on? Some cocoa farms use forced child labor, often the case in Western Africa where much of the world’s chocolate comes from. Another thing to consider is that Cocoa plants are very susceptible to diseases and pests. To save their crop, many farmers often use highly toxic pesticides, including lindane, which poses both health and environmental risks. Finally, new cocoa varieties have been introduced that grow in full sun, which upsets the balance of a region’s ecosystem and biodiversity.
So what can one do? For starters, choose chocolate with the right eco-labels. Chocolates labeled USDA Certified Organic, for example, originate from farmers who use renewable resources and conserve soil and water to support the environment. Crops grown under this label are not exposed to synthetic fertilizers or the most persistent pesticides, and they’re produced without genetic engineering or ionizing radiation. They’re also processed and handled separately from conventional cocoa.
You should also look for the Fair Trade Certified label. This is your assurance that farmers and workers got a fair price for their crop, that they sold directly to buyers, not middlemen, and that the cocoa crops were grown using soil and water conservation measures that restrict agrochemical use.
Finally, look for the Rainforest Alliance label. Chocolates with this label ensure that they originated from crops that were grown using integrated pest management systems that limit the use of agrochemicals. It also means that the crops were grown using water, soil, and wildlife habitat conservation measures and that farm laborers were offered salaries and benefits that rose to the legal minimums in their countries.
Here are some Fair Trade, organic, or slave-free chocolate brands you’ll want to look for:
Chocolate bars
Chocolate Bars
Hot Chocolate, Cocoa Powder, Chocolate Bars
Bonbons, Truffles, Chocolate Bars, Hot Chocolate, Dipped Fruit, Cocoa Nibs
Nectar Bars and Z Bars only
Hot Chocolate
Chocolate bars, Cacao Powder, Hot Chocolates, Chocodrops, Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans, Chocolate Syrup.
Hot Cocoa, Baker’s Cocoa
If you have a real sweet tooth for something green, you can now get additional satisfaction just by reading the label.
