Global: 2025 Chocolate Scorecard by CSO coalition 'Be Slavery Free' assesses 81 cocoa and chocolate companies on their sustainability practices
"The scores are in, and this year’s chocolate villain is….," 8 April 2025
Today saw the release of the 2025 Chocolate Scorecard, the annual assessment of commodity traders, chocolate manufacturers and retailers in relation to seven critical cocoa sustainability indicators.
Through a rigorous survey and evaluation process, companies are ranked on their efforts to ensure farm-level traceability of cocoa beans, eliminate child and forced labour, promote agroforestry, provide a living income to producers, improve the position of women, reduce pesticide applications on cocoa farms, and ensure cocoa purchases are deforestation-free...
... whereas companies used to be very hesitant to publicly communicate about child labour, 82% of large companies shared their full child labour data with the Scorecard team this year.
... in 2021, major confectionary brands including Lindt, Ferrero, Mars and Nestlé all displayed mediocre scores with regards to deforestation and climate. Now, four years later, all four received the coveted “green bean” status, meaning that they are working hard to implement credible policies to ensure they only source deforestation-free cocoa. But it was Tony’s Chocolonely which topped the leaderboard across the charts. Well done to them!
... national traceably in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have similarly advanced. This is significant because it addresses a large portion of the untraceable and indirect supply, which are in the reach of the companies.
Sadly, though, ... Starbucks, a company Mighty Earth has repeatedly challenged for its indifferent attitude towards cocoa sustainability, continues to score poorly across the board, including on traceability. ...It is also frustrating to see so many retailers still failing to grapple with their critical role in improving the industry.
But this year’s hands-down chocolate villain is Mondelez – makers of the Cadbury’s, Toblerone and Oreo brands – for failing to even respond to the survey.
...