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We all love the richness of dark chocolate or the creamy sweetness of milk chocolate. But, when it comes to ethical chocolate, how many of us really know the benefits? While the end result is a sweet, the way that a cacao bean is made into your favorite candy can be a path of human and environmental exploitation, not to mention an excessive amount of sugar. Ethical or Fair Trade chocolate brands consciously craft their chocolate treats by building relationships with suppliers to ensure that labor standards and market prices are fair and that the land that grows one of our most prized sweet foods is well taken care of.
To fully grasp the importance of fair trade, you have to look at the problems that are present in an under monitored industry. Around 70% of the world’s cocoa supply comes from the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. Numerous organizations have brought attention to the rampant exploitation of children forced into labor to harvest cocoa farms in these regions. Habitats are also destroyed as deforestation makes way for farms and many of these farmers are paid poverty wages that can be as low as $2 / day. This system can benefit corporations who are able to earn a premium profit at the cost of a supply chain built on exploitation and damaging environments. Fair Trade is a fairer system that sees wealth evenly distributed, workers’ rights reinforced and sustainable farming practices adopted to ensure that everyone from farmers to those who have a sweet tooth can enjoy chocolate and trees for decades to come.
These brands have made a conscious choice to source their ingredients from organic farms and partner with suppliers to ensure that the strict ethical environmental and labor standards set by fair trade organizations are met. Others work directly with farmers for a grassroots approach towards making their work relationship beneficial for all. And, trust us, milk chocolate is sweet and dark is delectable, but chocolate made fairly by brands that you can trust, is the most decadent of all.
Alter Eco
Can chocolate reverse climate change? Alter Eco is an alternative chocolate brand that has built sustainability into its brand’s mission from the get go. The chocolate is sourced from farms that practice regenerative farming and the brand has committed to being carbon neutral since 2008.
Environmental Impact: All ingredients that can be certified Fair Trade are for this chocolate. That means that cocoa beans are sourced from farmers that receive a fair wage. Other ingredients like USDA certified organic milk is sourced as sustainably as possible. The wrappers for the brand’s signature truffles are made from materials sourced from eucalyptus and birch trees, so they are suited for backyard composting. Other materials used for packaging such as the aluminum wrapping for their chocolate bars are made from recyclable foil.
Equal Exchange
When you buy one of these chocolate products you’re supporting small scale farmers who practice sustainable farming methods. Since 1986, Equal Exchange has collaborated with farmers and non-profits to craft delicious chocolate that is just as good to the eco-system as it tastes.
Ethical Impact: This is one of those fair trade chocolate brands that relies on a grass roots approach to fully understand farmers needs and foster a mutually beneficial relationship that supports farming communities. Long term relationships with artisan co-ops and farmers are built to help foster economic growth. And, wages are considerably higher than standard prices and across the supply chain the International Labor Organization’s policies are adhered to.
Endangered Species
Since 2016 this chocolate brand has been able to donate more than $2.6 million to conversation organizations. When you place a purchase 10% of profits will be donated to organizations that help to protect wildlife.
Environmental Impact: As a chocolate brand with a mission Endangered Species has built partnerships with organizations that preserve natural habitats. In 2020 alone, this has resulted in 4.396 acres of wildlife habitat and 66 miles of streams being restored that directly helped to protect the endangered red-cocked woodpecker and the threatened chinook salmon. Other impacts include distributing 14,000 trees to families in various habitats in Africa to help improve food insecurity.
Theo
From the cocoa beans to the licorice oil, each ingredient in Theo’s chocolates are carefully selected from Fair Trade partners and organic farms. All products are certified non GMO, USDA Organic and Fair For Life.
Ethical Impact: Sometimes minimum wage doesn’t always take into account the cost of living. That’s why this is one of the fair trade chocolate brands that pays farmers a living wage that is often times much higher than the minimum. An example is the cost of cocoa beans in 2020. The minimum wage was set at $2,940 per metric ton while Theo paid a living wage of $3,296.
Taza
Nothing can compare to the bold flavor of stone ground organic dark chocolate. Enamored by the ancient Mexican practice, the founder of Taza brought the craft by to his his hometown of Somerville, MA. Since 2005, is has become a one-of-a-kind fair trade chocolate brand that focuses on direct relationships with farmers and living wages.
Environmental Impact: Each bar begins with Certified USDA Organic cocao that meets the brand’s high standards. Through a direct relationship with farmers, Taza ensures that cacao is grown in agroforestry systems that respect the environment and that prices are well above minimum wage to ensure that farmers can survive and thrive.
The Good Chocolate
Indulge in this bean-to-bar quality chocolate that delivers all the sweetness that you’ll love without sugar. This sugar-free chocolate is instead sweetened with erythritol sourced from pears and mushrooms, Stevia and mesquite powder.
Environmental Impact: Only organic cacao beans and butter are used in these chocolate bars. The brand builds a relationship with farmers on initiatives to ensure that education is possibility for their families and These chocolate bars are packaged to eliminate waste. That translates to paper pouches made from plant-based materials that are compostable and plastic boxes that are made from recycled plastics.
Read more about having an Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day:
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