Raw materials

Taking responsibility for sustainability is especially important with respect to raw materials that come to us from faraway countries, for example cocoa.

Many cocoa farmers are facing the challenge of switching to more sustainable farming methods due to low incomes. Low cocoa prices and low yields often mean that they farm their land inefficiently. This is why a stronger commitment to greater sustainability in cocoa cultivation is particularly important.

Our commitment to sustainable cocoa sourcing

1. We are a founding member of the Forum Nachhaltiger Kakao e. V. (Sustainable Cocoa Forum).

2. We are a member of the Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) and support the Foundation of the German Cocoa and Chocolate Industry.

1. What the Sustainable Cocoa Forum does

As a founding member of the Forum Nachhaltiger Kakao e. V. (Sustainable Cocoa Forum), we are committed to fighting abuse in the cocoa industry. The forum aims to improve the living conditions of cocoa farmers and their families, conserve natural resources and biodiversity in the countries of origin, and expand the cultivation and marketing of cocoa certified according to sustainability standards.

2. Commitment with other German institutions

We are a long-standing member of the Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) and support the Foundation of the German Cocoa and Chocolate Industry through it. These two institutions actively work to make cocoa cultivation more sustainable. Their specific funding and research programs focus on West Africa. Measures include assistance for cocoa farmers in land use by providing them with the appropriate required documentation for their land use rights. This program is implemented in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Society for International Cooperation – GIZ), a federal company active in international development cooperation.