Beyond Chocolate is the partnership for a sustainable Belgian chocolate industry. Partners in the initiative are working to end deforestation, stimulate education for future generations and provide a living income for cocoa growers.

Partners

Making Belgian chocolate even better and more sustainable. This is the joint ambition of the Belgian chocolate and retail sector, civil society, social impact investors, trade unions and universities. With support from the Belgian Development Cooperation, this diverse group of actors officially signed the Beyond Chocolate partnership on December 5, 2018, thus kicking off an influential multi-stakeholder collaboration.

* the sector organization CHOPRABISCO have signed on their own behalf and not on behalf of all their members.

Currently, over 70 companies and organizations have joined the Beyond Chocolate partnership, covering about 90% of the Belgian chocolate production market and 57% of the Belgian chocolate consumption market. All companies and organizations that are part of Beyond Chocolate have committed to reaching the partnership’s end goals of zero deforestation and a living income for cocoa producers.

Challenges

For now, despite the action of national and international organisations, NGOs, trade unions, research institutions, governments and companies in cocoa growing regions, major challenges remain to be addressed to improve the sustainability of the Belgian chocolate sector. While cocoa farming could have a positive impact on cocoa farmers, their communities, and the economy of producing countries, this potential is not fully realized. The average cocoa farmer is far from earning a living income. The fact that many families in cocoa producing countries live below the poverty line often results in child labour and unjust working conditions. Moreover, poverty pushes farmers to converting new land, often in protected areas, leading to a dramatic reduction of forest cover in West and Central Africa.

Commitments

Beyond Chocolate partners jointly undertake to make sure that:

  • Certification and Company Programs

    By 2025 at the latest, all the chocolate produced and/or sold in Belgium shall comply with a relevant certification standards and/or shall be manufactured from cocoa-based products covered by a corporate sustainability scheme.

  • Living Income

    By 2030 at the latest, cocoa growers will earn at least a living income.

  • Ending Deforestation

    By 2025 at the latest, Beyond Chocolate partners shall comply with applicable agreements between governments and companies in the regions included in the Cocoa & Forests Initiative. By 2025 at the latest deforestation due to cocoa growing for the Belgian chocolate sector has ended.

How we reach these commitments

The Beyond Chocolate partnership empowers all stakeholders to have a positive impact on the sustainability level of the cocoa supply chain within their sphere of influence.

The cocoa-processing industry, chocolatiers and companies that are active in the Belgian chocolate sector will substantially intensify their investments into the sustainable development of the cocoa sector in the coming years, retailers take a closer look at their house brands, civil society organizations are encouraged to share learnings and appeal to their networks, universities do research into good practices and make that information publicly available, standard setting organizations keep their standards up to date and follow-up on activities on-field,…

By increasing investments, adopting sustainable business models, testing sustainability approaches and sharing learnings and know-how, Beyond Chocolate will lead to lasting improvements in the living standards and incomes of smallholder cocoa farmers, as well as counter environmental degradation.

Where we stand today

The Beyond Chocolate 2022 annual report shows that Beyond Chocolate signatories are taking valuable steps towards a more sustainable chocolate sector, but progress needs to accelerate to reach the partnership’s objectives.

– Beyond Chocolate is on track to reaching its 2025 target for the Belgian market with 90% of the chocolate sold in Belgium by signatories currently certified/covered by a company scheme. However, the partnership is not progressing fast enough for chocolate destined for the export market.

– There is a positive evolution towards more traceability, showing partners are preparing for the EU deforestation regulation.

-While on the market level there is clearly a shift towards more investments in sustainability, the impact generated at farm level remains limited.

Find the Annual Report Here

Relevant SDG's

  • SDG 1: No Poverty
  • SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production
  • SDG 15: Life on Land
  • SDG 19: Partnerships

Publications

Program Management

  • Charles Snoeck

    Senior Program Manager, Beyond Chocolate

  • Marloes Humbeeck

    Senior Program Officer, Beyond Chocolate

An Initiative of

The Beyond Chocolate Program is funded by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative was appointed by the Belgian Ministry for Development Cooperation to coordinate investments, independently monitor progress, measure traceable impacts and communicate transparently on the partners’ mobilization and results.