Cocoa

LIDL’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE FARMING

This is about more than just chocolate: As a retailer Lidl has a major interest in ensuring that raw materials like cocoa are cultivated in a more sustainable manner. This can help guarantee that supplies of cocoa in Africa, for example, which secures many locals’ livelihoods in the long term. Furthermore, this commitment is about protecting the rainforest as an important ecosystem.

That is why we are taking a stand in places like Ghana and the Ivory Coast, two important countries for cocoa cultivation. With the help of Lidl, local cocoa farmers are educated in sustainable farming, in order to learn how to cultivate cocoa using modern techniques and more environmentally-friendly methods.

Thanks to the projects Way To Go and PROCACAO, the cocoa farmers are familiarizing themselves with even more agricultural raw materials that they can efficiently cultivate on their plantations. This means that the farmers will not only be investing in the security of the own livelihoods, but the environment will also benefit through more biodiversity. With more sustainable agriculture small farmers will be more resistant in the face of climate change and price fluctuations. Additional positive effects: They will secure income and livelihood for generations yet to come.

Why is the topic “cocoa” so important?
The cultivation of cocoa usually brings with it ecological and social problems. In Ghana and the Ivory Coast, for example, two of the biggest cocoa producers worldwide, a large portion of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on the cultivation of cocoa. The largest portion of cocoa is grown on small family plantations. However, they can no longer yield the returns necessary to secure a living after years of using outdated agricultural methods to cultivate cocoa. That is why parts of rainforest were illegally cleared out in the past, and the habitat of many species was destroyed.

These decreases in yields as well as price pressure lead to low or unfair pay for cocoa farmers and is often accompanied by child and forced labor. Additionally, the work on the plantations is very dangerous and physically demanding.

How can the situation be improved?
Lidl is aware of its responsibility as a grocer and therefore takes on economic, social and ecological responsibility in its everyday activities. In order to preserve the land and rainforest in the long-term and to secure their income at the same time, the cocoa farmers will have to be educated in modern cultivation methods. Through further training, farmers can run their farms successfully in the future and contribute to meeting the global demand for cocoa in a sustainable manner. Furthermore, since the end of 2016, the cocoa for the entire Lidl own brand product range was procured 100% from certified cultivation.

Projects

Procacao

As a retailer Lidl has a major interest in ensuring that raw materials like cocoa are cultivated in a more sustainable manner. This can help guarantee that supplies of cocoa in Africa, for example, which secures many locals’ livelihoods in the long term. Furthermore, this commitment is about protecting the rainforest as an important ecosystem. Learn more about our cocoa activities here.

FAIRTRADE-COCOA AT LIDL

Cocoa as an ingredient of our private brand chocolate products

Cocoa is used as an ingredient in Lidl brand products – mainly in chocolate, sweets, baked goods and sandwich spreads.

Since the end of 2016, the cocoa for the entire Lidl-brand product range has been bought 100% from certified cultivation. This also applies to seasonal products like ones during Easter or Christmas.

Further on the topic of certified cocoa, we work closely with the internationally recognized labeling organizations Fairtrade, Fairtrade Cocoa-Program, UTZ und Rainforest Alliance. This means that 100% of Lidl chocolate bars products are Fairtrade-certified. Focusing on cocoa from certified cultivation, Lidl is sending a clear signal in the domain of supply chain management and is specifically standing up for more sustainable and forward-thinking cocoa cultivation.

Detailed information about Lidl's commitment in the cocoa sphere can be found in the position paper on sustainable purchasing of cocoa.

Position Paper Cocoa