Though cocoa has been a major driver of deforestation worldwide, it can become the reverse - an agent of re-greening around the planet.

Every year, an estimated 44% of all farmers and farm workers suffer acute poisoning by pesticides, that’s 350 million people, with many experiencing multiple incidents each season. Cocoa is no exception. Cocoa farmers and children are also exposed to these hazardous chemicals.

West Africa produces 75% of the world’s cocoa, with Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana producing the lion’s share. In the last 60 years, these two African countries have lost around 94% and 80% of their forests, respectively, with approximately one-third of that forest loss to make way for growing cocoa.

For 23 years the chocolate industry has been aware of child labor in the growing of cocoa in West Africa and beyond. The worst forms of child labor include work which could harm children’s health or well-being and/or expose them to danger.

Chocolate is a multi-billion dollar industry, with some of the wealthiest and most powerful companies in the world profiting from it. However, many cocoa farmers, who produce the essential ingredient of the industry, still live in poverty and struggle to earn a living income.

The chocolate industry has a poor reputation for social and environmental issues such as farmer poverty, child labor, and deforestation. Without transparency and traceability, it's difficult to know if our favourite treat comes from sustainable sources. However, more brands and governments are taking traceability seriously, and collaborations are emerging to capture the traceability of all cocoa production.