The global chocolate industry still has a bitter aftertaste when it comes to sustainability, with major retailers accused of failing to clean up their cocoa supply chains.
The warning comes in the latest Chocolate Scorecard released by campaign group Be Slavery Free, reported in Phys.org.
The report found progress across the sector remains patchy, despite years of scrutiny over child labour, deforestation and poverty, among cocoa farmers.
The seventh edition of the annual report assessed 49 chocolate companies across eight categories – including traceability, living income, child and forced labour, pesticides, gender and deforestation.
While some brands improved their scores the report said retailers’ own-brand chocolate products often lagged behind on transparency and accountability.
Researchers said consumers increasingly want guilt-free treats but are still being left in the dark over where cocoa comes from and how it is produced.
University of Wollongong Associate Professor Stephanie Perkiss, part of the Chocolate Scorecard’s Data Ethics and Integrity Committee, said the industry still faced a “persistent gap” between consumer expectations and retailer accountability.
“Consumers increasingly want to make ethical choices but they depend on retailers to make those choices possible through transparency and responsible sourcing,” she said.
“During occasions like Mother’s Day consumers buy chocolate as a gesture of care and generosity but behind that gift can be complex supply chains that don’t always reflect those values.”
The report found the industry has become better at tracking supply chains but that has not always translated into sweeter outcomes for farming communities.
“Improved monitoring has not yet translated into improved outcomes for cocoa-growing communities,” the researchers said.
The findings land just as chocolate prices continue to soar globally putting even more focus on how the industry balances profit and sustainability.
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