Every year, chocolate Santas and Father Christmases must participate in the ethics test during Advent. This year, 21 products were checked for social and environmental criteria. The conclusion of the environmental activists of Global 2000 and the development policy organization Südwind is: The companies’ commitment to more sustainability and fair working conditions can still be expanded. After all, they determined four test winners.
At the top were the EZA-Schoko Nikolo of the Worldshops, the Riegelein Bio Fairtrade Santa Claus, the Billa Bio Schoko Nikolo and the Spar Natur Pur Bio-Nikolaus. They all carry the EU’s organic and fair trade label.
EZA Schoko-Nikolo in 1st place
EZA Schoko-Nikolo has been at the top of this ranking for years. “While many brands are clouding their supply chains, EZA scores with extra transparency. Customers can trace both cocoa and cane sugar back to the cooperatives of origin,” says Caroline Sommeregger, Südwind spokeswoman for fair cocoa.
Behind the field of winners were seven chocolate figures that received a positive assessment in at least one category: St. Niklas and the classic chocolate Santa Claus from Favorina, the Monarc Nikolo, the (second) Riegelein Santa Claus, the Douceur mixed bag, Denn’s Rosengarten chocolate Santa Claus and dm’s biological santa claus.
Big brands get bad reviews
The bottom places were again shared by the chocolate Santas of the major brands: Ferrero, Milka, Lindt, Hauswirth, Storck and the Baur chocolate Santa were judged double red according to the traffic light system. Manufacturers would either do without seals altogether or use internal seals that customers could not understand.
“Unfortunately there is far too little movement in the middle and at the end of the standings. At the same time, exploitative child labor and global forest destruction are still closely linked to the chocolate industry,” Sommeregger criticized.
“Pesticides are still used in conventional cocoa farming, which are extremely dangerous for people and nature,” explains Martin Wildenberg of Global 2000. “Moreover, valuable rainforests are being deforested again and again.” Südwind and Global 2000 are calling for a strict supply chain law that requires companies to be transparent and hold them accountable for violations.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
