Isn’t it amazing how a simple treat like chocolate can bring so much joy?! Consuming chocolate releases endorphins and serotonin, also known as the ‘happy hormones’ – need we say more? While we all love satiating our sweet tooth with this indulgent treat, it’s also important to be aware of the flip side of the chocolate industry.
About 70% of the world’s cocoa beans, the main ingredient for making chocolate, is produced in West African countries. The farmers who grow these crops include child labourers who are exploited and given minimum wages, with poor working conditions. So, when we do something as simple as buying chocolates from brands that follow fair trade, we support the ethical treatment of labourers and farmers involved in the process and stand for fair wages and safe working conditions.
Contributing towards building an ethical industry, here’s a roundup of chocolate companies for you to indulge in guilt-free!
1. Tony’s Chocolonely
Tony’s mission is to show that ‘chocolate can be made differently, without slavery and exploitation’. They source cocoa beans from West Africa (Ghana and Ivory Coast) and purchase them directly from farmers to ensure fair distribution of resources. An interesting feature of Tony’s chocolate is their chocolate bar, which is irregular in shape, as a reminder that profits in the chocolate industry are unequally divided. Woke, right?
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2. Seed and Bean
With a Fairtrade Certification, Seed and Bean is the chocolate that cares. They are accredited as one of the most ethical chocolate producers in Britain. Taking it a step further, they are also known for their fully compostable chocolate wrappers. The outer packaging and inner foil are made with eucalyptus wood pulp, keeping everything completely natural. Safe to say, they put the environment first!
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3. Love Cocoa
The chocolate industry is driving deforestation, especially in West African countries, considering they house a majority of the world’s cacao trees. Love Cocoa’s ‘Plant a Tree’ project is an initiative to combat this problem. For every bar sold, they plant a tree as an effective way to fight against climate change and preserve wildlife. They plan to go carbon negative by the end of 2021 by planting 1 million trees and going completely plastic-free. Fun fact: Love Cocoa is founded by James Cadbury, the great-great-great-grandson of the famous chocolatier John Cadbury. Guess chocolate runs in the family!
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4. Theo Chocolate
Theo prides itself for the only chocolate factory in the United States that is organic and fair trade certified (a third-party audits the authenticity of their claims and functionality). The award-winning chocolate ensures complete transparency in production and ascertains their farmers are earning a substantial living wage. Theo’s founding principle is that ‘the finest artisan chocolate in the world can (and should) be produced in an entirely ethical, sustainable fashion.’
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5. Endangered Species Chocolate
In honour of its namesake, this chocolate brand is dedicated to preserving and creating a better habitat for the wildlife, promoting true global change. In a step towards protecting bio-diversity, Endangered Species Chocolate has partnered with several organisations supporting their cause and help by donating a percentage of their profits towards it. By choosing their chocolate, we honour the farmers and support sustainable practices and humanitarian efforts.
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Photographs: Unsplash, Instagram
