Showing posts with label Cocoa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cocoa. Show all posts
Friday, August 23, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Moving The Bars: KPMG Evaluation of the 2008-2012 Cocoa Improvement Program
IDH , Solidaridad and UTZ Certified have been working since 2008 with the cocoa and chocolate industry to scale up the production of sustainable cocoa through the Cocoa Improvement Program (CIP), which brings together key players throughout the value chain, including farmers, traders, processors, chocolate brands, supermarkets, NGOs and governments
This report evaluates the effectiveness of the CIP through the analyses of a combination of data and perspectives from CIP progress reports, a survey and interviews amongst supply chain actors, data provided by companies that source a great share of cocoa, and additional (scientific) reports. The focus is on Ivory Coast and Ghana.
This report evaluates the effectiveness of the CIP through the analyses of a combination of data and perspectives from CIP progress reports, a survey and interviews amongst supply chain actors, data provided by companies that source a great share of cocoa, and additional (scientific) reports. The focus is on Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Hershey and Barry Callebaut Lag Industry in Addressing Child Labor
Based on data revealed last week at the Department of Labor’s Child Labor Cocoa Coordinating Group (CLCCG), the non-profit groups behind the Raise The Bar, Hershey campaign (Global Exchange, Green America, the International Labor Rights Forum, and Oasis USA) concluded that while many companies have increased their commitments to reducing child labor in the communities they source from, others lag behind, notably Hershey and Barry Callebaut.
Over the last few days, chocolate companies; the Ivorian, Ghanaian, and US Governments; and civil society organizations have met to receive updates on the work that is being done by the cocoa industry and the Ivorian government to end child labor and trafficking on cocoa farms by 2020.
Following is a breakdown of the funds designated by each company to fight child labor in cocoa under the CLCCG framework. Programs and initiatives that are considered part of the industry commitment must be approved by the CLCCG and must be in line with the Framework of Action, which the companies signed in 2010.
Hershey’s commitment was only 17 percent of Mars’ (its largest competitor in the US) and Barry Callebaut’s was only 11 percent of Mars’ commitment. Hershey, the largest chocolate maker in the United States, brings in over $5 billion in revenue every year. Barry Callebaut is one of the largest suppliers of chocolate in the world. As two of the biggest chocolate companies in the world, Barry Callebaut and Hershey are just as responsible as their counterparts for the atrocious labor conditions of the cocoa sector. And yet, both have been miserly when it comes to the fight to remove children from the cocoa fields of West Africa.
In addition, the NGO’s critiqued the quality of Barry Callebaut’s and Hershey’s programs. Hershey’s only initiative to fall under the CLCCG program requirements is the CocoaLink, program, which sends text and voice messages to farmers to discourage the use of child labor and encourage more efficient farming techniques. This program was launched in March of 2011 and to date has 3,720 subscribers registered in Ghana, where there are an estimated 700,000+ cocoa farmers. CocoaLink has reached less than 1% of cocoa farmers in Ghana, and no farmers in Cote D’Ivoire.
By Hershey’s own testimony, only about one third of the text messages address social issues, a portion of which mention child labor. As there is still no evaluation report on this program, it remains unclear whether these messages have had any substantial impact on farmers’ lives. In fact, Hershey’s own anecdotal reporting suggests the program is slow to progress “due to low literacy levels and the general unfamiliarity with mobile phone usage.”
Barry Callebaut’s program aims to build two schools in two cocoa growing communities; a number that appears irrelevant compared to the estimated 36,000+ schoolrooms needed in these regions.
No matter how many schools are built or how many health centers are staffed, the balance of power in the cocoa supply chain will remain in the hands of cocoa exporters and chocolate brands unless cocoa farmers can be empowered to negotiate a decent price for their crop. Until then, farmers will continue to live in poverty.
Additional information on this topic is available on ILRF’s Blog and Green America’s Blog.
About the Raise the Bar, Hershey! Coalition:
GREEN AMERICA is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. www.GreenAmerica.org
GLOBAL EXCHANGE is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. www.GlobalExchange.org
INTERNATIONAL LABOR RIGHTS FORUM is an advocacy organization dedicated to achieving just and humane treatment for workers worldwide. www.LaborRights.org
Over the last few days, chocolate companies; the Ivorian, Ghanaian, and US Governments; and civil society organizations have met to receive updates on the work that is being done by the cocoa industry and the Ivorian government to end child labor and trafficking on cocoa farms by 2020.
Following is a breakdown of the funds designated by each company to fight child labor in cocoa under the CLCCG framework. Programs and initiatives that are considered part of the industry commitment must be approved by the CLCCG and must be in line with the Framework of Action, which the companies signed in 2010.
| Company | Total committed funds | Average commitment per year |
| Mars | $2.7 million committed for 2011-2013 | $904,000 |
| Mondelez (Kraft) | $2.32 million committed for 2009-2012 | $508,000 |
| Ferrero | $1.14 million committed for 2012-2013 | $570,000 |
| Nestle | $1.5 million committed for 2012-2015 | $375,000 |
| Hershey | $600,000 committed for 2011-2014 | $150,000 |
| Barry Callebaut | $300,000 committed for 2012-2014 | $100,000 |
Hershey’s commitment was only 17 percent of Mars’ (its largest competitor in the US) and Barry Callebaut’s was only 11 percent of Mars’ commitment. Hershey, the largest chocolate maker in the United States, brings in over $5 billion in revenue every year. Barry Callebaut is one of the largest suppliers of chocolate in the world. As two of the biggest chocolate companies in the world, Barry Callebaut and Hershey are just as responsible as their counterparts for the atrocious labor conditions of the cocoa sector. And yet, both have been miserly when it comes to the fight to remove children from the cocoa fields of West Africa.
In addition, the NGO’s critiqued the quality of Barry Callebaut’s and Hershey’s programs. Hershey’s only initiative to fall under the CLCCG program requirements is the CocoaLink, program, which sends text and voice messages to farmers to discourage the use of child labor and encourage more efficient farming techniques. This program was launched in March of 2011 and to date has 3,720 subscribers registered in Ghana, where there are an estimated 700,000+ cocoa farmers. CocoaLink has reached less than 1% of cocoa farmers in Ghana, and no farmers in Cote D’Ivoire.
By Hershey’s own testimony, only about one third of the text messages address social issues, a portion of which mention child labor. As there is still no evaluation report on this program, it remains unclear whether these messages have had any substantial impact on farmers’ lives. In fact, Hershey’s own anecdotal reporting suggests the program is slow to progress “due to low literacy levels and the general unfamiliarity with mobile phone usage.”
Barry Callebaut’s program aims to build two schools in two cocoa growing communities; a number that appears irrelevant compared to the estimated 36,000+ schoolrooms needed in these regions.
No matter how many schools are built or how many health centers are staffed, the balance of power in the cocoa supply chain will remain in the hands of cocoa exporters and chocolate brands unless cocoa farmers can be empowered to negotiate a decent price for their crop. Until then, farmers will continue to live in poverty.
Additional information on this topic is available on ILRF’s Blog and Green America’s Blog.
About the Raise the Bar, Hershey! Coalition:
GREEN AMERICA is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. www.GreenAmerica.org
GLOBAL EXCHANGE is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. www.GlobalExchange.org
INTERNATIONAL LABOR RIGHTS FORUM is an advocacy organization dedicated to achieving just and humane treatment for workers worldwide. www.LaborRights.org
OASIS USA is a non-profit organization committed to developing communities where everyone is included, making a contribution, and reaching their God-given potential. www.OasisUSA.org
SOURCE Green America, Washington, DC
SOURCE Green America, Washington, DC
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
A brief overview of the sustainable cocoa sector in Latin America and the Caribbean
The Finance Alliance for Sustainable Trade (FAST), with the support of Citi Foundation, has just published an executive-level strategic market report, which is now available online:"Market Research for Sustainable Investment: A Brief Overview of the Sustainable Cocoa Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean".
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Barry Callebaut increases UTZ Certified training activities with cocoa supply chain intermediaries in Côte d’Ivoire
Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate, has extended its agriculture training activities in Côte d’Ivoire to cocoa supply chain intermediaries. Training to meet the sustainability standards of UTZ Certified, an independent certification program for cocoa, is being provided to eight intermediaries in key cocoa growing regions.
Over the next several years, Barry Callebaut’s in-house sustainability team, together with representatives from the UTZ Certified program, will provide agricultural training to farmer trainers and will assist administrators in developing documentation and implementing internal control systems, as required by the UTZ Certified program.
The training activities with intermediaries, part of Barry Callebaut’s "Cocoa Horizons" global sustainability initiative, build on the company’s successful prior experience in training cooperatives and farmer groups to be independently certified.
"UTZ Certified is a program and a label for sustainable farming," said Daan de Vries, Field Director UTZ Certified. "As a program, UTZ Certified functions as an architect and enabler of sustainable supply chains. To reach our shared goal to make sustainability the norm rather than an exception, we need to work closely with all players in the cocoa value chain. We are very pleased with the commitment of the participating intermediaries and Barry Callebaut to work to achieve long-term economic viability for producers and markets, protect our natural resources and contribute to improving farmer livelihoods."
Friday, October 5, 2012
Hershey to Source 100% Certified Cocoa by 2020
The Hershey Company on October 3 said it will source 100 percent certified cocoa for its global chocolate product lines by 2020 and accelerate its programs to help eliminate child labor in the cocoa regions of West Africa.
This decision comes after more than two years of “Raise the Bar, Hershey!” Campaign calling on Hershey to address child labor issues in its supply chain.
These projects include village school construction, mobile phone farmer messaging, literacy and health programs and training in modern farming techniques.
Currently, certified cocoa accounts for less than five percent of the world’s cocoa supply. As the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America , Hershey believes its 2020 purchasing commitment should significantly expand the global supply of certified cocoa, particularly from West Africa , which produces about 70 percent of the world’s cocoa.
As announced earlier this year, Hershey’s Bliss chocolates will be Rainforest Alliance certified (and sadly enough not Fairtrade) and available to consumers by year end. Hershey’s Dagoba organic chocolate is currently 100 percent Rainforest Alliance certified. Hershey also said today that its Scharffen Berger brand will source 100 percent certified cocoa by the end of 2013.
- For more information about Hershey's cocoa sustainability programs in West Africa , please see: www.HersheyCocoaSustainability.com.
- Statement of the Raise the bar, Hershey! campaign
- Statement of the Raise the bar, Hershey! campaign
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The Availibility of Sustainable Cocoa Products in the Assortments of Belgian Supermarkets
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