AN ETHICAL TWIST ON VALENTINE'S DAY TREATS

by quinn wilson

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Valentine’s day is right around the corner, which means it’s time for flowers, candy, and most importantly…chocolate. Every year during Valentine’s week, an estimated 48 million pounds of chocolate is sold. And with so many different options in the stores, how do you even choose which chocolate to give to your valentine (or yourself?) Your choice of chocolate can actually do some good.

The majority of chocolate production takes place in Western Africa, where child labor and, sometimes, slavery is prevalent on cocoa farms. Many cocoa farmers live way below the poverty line and earn less than $1 dollar per day. Conditions for workers on these farms are brutal and dangerous, especially for children. In the past year Nestle, Hershey, and Mars have faced a lawsuit over child slavery in Ivory Coast. The cocoa industry has a dark side, but there are so many brands that are doing good and using responsible sourcing practices.

Here are some of my favorite socially responsible chocolate companies:
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Alter Eco

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• Uses regenerative agriculture
• Organic
• Fair Trade
• Compostable, recyclable, and post-consumer recycled packaging
• Carbon neutral, through using carbon offsets

Endangered Species Chocolate

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• Donates 10% of profits to conservation organizations
• Fair trade sourcing
• Helped restore over 4,000 acres of wildlife habitat restored
• Health conscious ingredients

Equal Exchange

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• Worker owned co-op
• Has used fair trade and socially conscious practices for over 30 years
• Sourced globally from small farmer organization

Hu

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• Simple ingredients
• Vegan and Gluten Free
• Organic
• Fair Trade

Lily’s

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• No added sugars
• Fair Trade
• Non-GMO and Gluten Free ingredients
• Donate percentage of profits to charitable organizations

Tony’s Chocolonely

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• Have a goal of 100% slave free cocoa industry, not just their chocolate
• Traceable ingredients and cocoa beans
• Cultivate long term relationships with farmers
•  Fair Trade ingredients

To learn more about the deep rooted issues in the cocoa industry check out this article from the Food Empowerment Project. There is a long way to go to clean up the chocolate industry and create a 100% slave-free industry. But you, as a consumer, can help by supporting socially and environmentally responsible brands.  Make a difference with your dollars this Valentine’s day by choosing fair trade and socially responsible chocolate!

Thanks for reading!