Italian chocolate manufacturer Ferrero has published its cocoa charter and cocoa action plan, which set out its continued ambition for a cocoa industry that favours people and nature.
The charter and action plan reaffirm the group's long-standing support for income generation for farmers, protecting children and developing communities, and promoting sustainable agroforestry.
Sustainable Cocoa
Ferrero began its efforts towards responsibly sourced cocoa in 2005, by joining the World Cocoa Foundation and subsequently the International Cocoa Initiative.
Currently, cocoa used by the company is 100% sustainably sourced via independently managed standards such as Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, and others.
The company places strong emphasis on traceability and supply chain visibility. At present, its cocoa supply chain is 96% traceable to farm level.
The chocolate manufacturer acknowledges that the cocoa supply chain’s issues are complex and must be addressed through partnerships with farmers, industry, communities, NGOs, and governments.
The ambitions outlined in the charter are grouped within four pillars – sustainable livelihoods, human rights and social practices, environmental protection and transparency.
Other Initiatives
Initiatives already in place from the Kinder maker include farm development plans and income-generating activities and paying a cash premium to farmers over and above the commercial price to support cocoa farmers to prosper
It implements measures to address child labour and works with the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) to end deforestation in the cocoa sector and promote sustainable agroforestry.
The company is also working to strengthen supplier partnerships and building a platform that gives visibility over Ferrero’s entire supply chain
Each year a report will be published on the progress made against the action plan. The first progress report is expected to be published in the second quarter of 2022.
Marco Gonçalves, chief procurement and hazelnut company officer, commented, “The cocoa charter and action plan underline Ferrero’s ambition to be a driving force behind a cocoa sector where cocoa production creates value for people and the environment.
“Through our distinct sourcing approach, we know the farmers and communities we source from, and this enables us to support them in a targeted way. We are now strengthening our activities to bring about lasting change for the sector.”
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Conor Farrelly. For more A-Brands news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
