Barry Callebaut moves closer to making sustainable chocolate the norm with release of new Progress Report

The news was announced in the Group’s 6th Forever Chocolate Progress Report, covering Fiscal Year 2021-22, ending 30 August 2022.

‘It shows that we are continuing to scale up our activities by partnering with customers as well as societal and industry stakeholders to create tangible impact on the ground. One of our key achievements is that with the support of our customers, we increased the proportion of products sold containing 100% sustainable cocoa or chocolate to 49.4%, meaning one in two products,’ the report stated.

“Forever Chocolate is our plan to make sustainable chocolate the norm, and it is truly becoming a reality! With the support of our customers, one out of two products we sell contain sustainably sourced cocoa or chocolate​,” confirmed Peter Boone, CEO of the Barry Callebaut Group

According to Barry Callebaut’s metrics, sustainably sourced cocoa includes cocoa that is grown in accordance with various sustainable cocoa certification programmes, improving cocoa farmers' livelihoods through premium payments and farming practices.

In addition to this certification, it is deploying specific programmes to fight child labour and deforestation, reduce carbon emissions and improve farmer prosperity.

‘Among them is Cocoa Horizons, our preferred vehicle to drive impact and deliver on our Forever Chocolate ambition, while addressing customer needs. In 2021-22, we saw significant growth in Cocoa Horizons premiums, driven by solid demand from customers seeking a program that focuses on impact. Cocoa Horizons premiums generated by our customers rose to CHF 37.4 million in funds (+30%),’ the report stated.

Sustainable ingredients

The Group also said it is targeted to have 100% sustainable ingredients in all its products. ‘At Barry Callebaut, approximately half of the ingredient volume we source consists of cocoa products and the other half consists of other ingredients – sugar, dairy, palm oil, coconut oil, sweeteners, nuts and vanilla, among others.’

Forever Chocolate also maintains targets to have more than 500,000 cocoa farmers in Barry Callebaut’s supply chain lifted out of poverty, eradicate child labour from its supply chain and become carbon and forest positive.

“Our Forever Chocolate Progress Report, covering fiscal year 2021-22, shows that we continue to scale up our activities by partnering with customers as well as industry stakeholders to create tangible impact on the ground, while at the same time publicly advocating for policies to make sustainable chocolate the norm​,” said Steven Retzlaff, President Global Cocoa of the Barry Callebaut Group