The announcement is part of the firm’s ‘Forever Chocolate’ sustainable strategy to ensure all packaging comes from sustainable sources by 2025.
The FSC certificate applies to carton boxes used by Barry Callebaut in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, UK, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany and Switzerland.
Expanding to other regions
Massimo Selmo, head of global sourcing at Barry Callebaut, told ConfectioneryNews, it has been working on the project for a number of years but it took time to develop the supply chains of FSC certified cartons in different factories.
“As Barry Callebaut is a B2B company, this announcement concerns cartons that we are using at our sites in EMEA for the shipment of our products. The cartons we are currently using are 95% FSC certified. We will be extending this to other regions,” he said.
“The initiative is part of Barry Callebaut's goal to have 100% sustainable ingredients and packaging for our chocolate by 2025. In the coming years we will be working hard to make this a reality."
2025 targets
The ‘Forever Chocolate’ campaign includes four targets it wants to achieve by 2025: to eradicate child labor from its supply chain, lift more than 500,000 cocoa farmers out of poverty, to become carbon and forest positive and to have 100% sustainable ingredients in all its products.
FSC certification ensures products come from well-managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. FSC certification is regarded internationally as a guarantee of responsible forest management.
“Annually, we’re talking about 12 million square meters of packaging with FSC certification, the equivalent of 1875 football fields,” said Selmo.
“This amounts to 7497 tons. FSC is a recognized standard internationally and part of our continuous efforts to ensure our products, ingredients and packaging come from sustainable sources.”