While we all enjoy a chocolatey treat in the evenings, did you know that most mainstream chocolate companies and their products are not ethically sourced?
We recently attended Irish chocolatier brand, Tony’s Chocolonely’s first-ever pop up event in Dublin. This free event was open to the public where inside, attendees stepped inside a fully immersive world with chocolate tastings and storytelling. While we certainly enjoyed the tasting element, it was the lessons we learned in cocoa’s inequality and exploitation that taught us the most.
Did you know that 60% of the worlds cocoa is produced across 2.5 million farms in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire? As a Fairtrade company, Tony’s mission highlights the huge inequality within this industry. Chocolate companies, or ‘Big Choco’ as they call them, are making huge profits through systemic underpayment and underinvestment in cocoa farmers. Millions of farmers are living in poverty and are in turn driven to illegal labour practices, such as child labour and deforestation.
There are an estimated 1.56 million children involved in child labour in cocoa farms across Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire and 30,000 people in forced labour working for no pay.
Tony’s Chocolonely is committing to changing this through creating awareness, leading by example and inspiring action from their fellow chocolatiers. They are calling for other chocolate companies to embrace their 5 sourcing principles of traceable beans, higher price (allowing farmers a liveable income), the long term, strong farmers and improved quality and productivity.
Thankfully, Tony’s isn’t the only Irish chocolatier providing delicious, and ethically-sourced sweet treats. Here are other ethically-sourced Irish chocolate brands to add to your radar.
Bean and Goose
Based in Gorey, county Wexford, Bean and Goose are committed to ethical sourcing with their ‘bean to bar’ partner Original Beans.
Grá Chocolates
These handmade chocolates are like edible art, made with love in county Galway Beautiful and tasty, they are also committed to sustainability and transparency. The company ethically source their cacao and use local Irish dairy to make their creations. Added bonus for their eco-friendly packing that is always either: recyclable, compostable, or reusable.
Buíoch Irish Chocolates
One of Ireland’s leading artisan chocolate producers, creating handmade chocolates from their factory on the banks of the River Liffey in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. All of the cocoa they use in their products is ethically sourced, meaning you can munch with peace of mind.
Áine’s Chocolate
Made in county Cavan, Áine’s Chocolate are committed to sustainability and ethical sourcing. They strive for recyclable and sustainable packaging, using cardboard and recyclable aluminium foil. They are also Rain Forest Alliance certified and are members and active contributors to Origin Green, the Irish Food Board, Bord Bia, Sustainability Programme. Their chocolate comes in a range of delicious flavours, from honeycomb to mint.
Sugar Plum Sweetery
Handmade in small batches each day, Sugar Plum Sweetery‘s chef-trained Master Chocolatiers work from Mullingar in county Westmeath. Their cocoa is responsibly sourced and through recognised sustainability programmes, they contribute to supporting farmers, protecting forests and improving traceability across the supply chain.
