In 1994, the premium chocolate brand Green & Black’s (G&B’s), set a trailblazing standard for ethical chocolate consumption, as it introduced Maya Gold, the first Fairtrade-certified chocolate product to be introduced to the UK market.
Green & Black’s is once again setting an industry standard as it announces it is now the world’s largest organic and Fairtrade chocolate brand following Fairtrade certification across its entire block bar and beverages products and an increased financial commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the cocoa-growing communities from which G&B’s sources its cocoa.
A sustainability, challenges and opportunities report conducted by Dr Amanda Berlan from The University of Manchester, and commissioned by Green & Black’s, has identified the issues faced by cocoa growing communities in one of Green & Black’s main supplying areas – the Dominican Republic (DR), as well as key areas through which an increased investment could have a significant positive impact.
In response Green & Black’s is committing approximately £400,000 per year for a planned period of eight years, to ensure the sustainability of the cocoa growing communities in the DR from which G&B’s sources it cocoa, and enabling farmers from those communities to invest in improving their livelihoods and communities. The investment will be made through Fairtrade premiums, as well as direct investment from the brand.
Neil La Croix, Head of Sustainability at G&B’s explains: “Green & Black’s is a brand which was built on ethical principles. We have always championed an ethical business approach, and will continue to do so, recognising the incredibly important role that the suppliers have to play in helping us to create the quality product that everyone knows and loves.
“To Green & Black’s, the cost of trading fairly and securing supplies ethically makes good business sense, and this is a principle shared by Fairtrade with whom we have had a long standing relationship.
“The decision to increase our commitment to Fairtrade and roll out the certification across our entire range of block bars and beverages, has been made following multiple considerations, but in the main as a result of the findings in our Cocoa Production in the Dominican Republic: Sustainability, Challenges and Opportunities report.”
Source: Green & Black’s
