Chocolate Week 2009: The Ethics of Cocoa

Although Ecomonkey has been labouring under the impression that every day is chocolate day it appears that 12 - 18 October was the 'official' Chocolate Week 2009. Well, we're a bit late but think this calls for an extra slice of delicious homemade chocolate and beetroot brownie!

From: Ethical Consumer
"Chocolate was one of the first, flagship Fairtrade products. Since 1998 sales of Fairtrade chocolate have grown from £1m to £26.8m in 2008.

But outside of the ethical leaders, who ensure human rights and environmental standards in their supply chains, there's a dark heart to the chocolate trade. More than a third of cocoa (from which chocolate is made) traded globally comes from the Ivory Coast, West Africa. In August this year INTERPOL rescued 54 children, victims of organised slave labour, from Ivory Coast plantations. A US State Department report found child labour, forced labour and people trafficking in the Ivorian cocoa trade. Ethical Consumer's new report examines industry responses to the human rights challenge.

Ethical Consumer's new report rates the companies behind 38 chocolate brands across 17 ethical categories in four main headings - Environment, Human rights, Animal rights, Politics.

Best Buys for boxes of chocolates: Booja Booja, Divine, Traidcraft
Best Buys for chocolate bars: Divine, Montezuma, Traidcraft, Plamil, Vegan Organica

Ethical lagards at the bottom of the ranking table were Mars (with an 'ethiscore' of 2 out of a possible 20), Nestle, Tesco and Asda (each with zero out of 20)

Ethical Consumer's report is independent of and not endorsed by Chocolate Week 2009."

Further Info:
Chocolate Week 2009 / Ethical Consumer