17 Apr 2019 --- Swiss cocoa manufacturer Barry Callebaut has established traceability for a third of its global cocoa volume. This is a key tool for the group to reach its Forever Chocolate commitment to make sustainable chocolate the norm by 2025. This commitment also includes a target to source 100 percent of the group’s ingredients sustainably by 2025.

The cocoa giant has prioritized the establishment of traceability in its Ghanaian and Ivorian supply chains, the world’s two largest cocoa producers. Under the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI), a multi-stakeholder initiative dedicated to ending cocoa farming induced deforestation in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, Barry Callebaut committed to delivering 100 percent traceability in its supply chains in both countries. In line with this commitment, the group has mapped 100 percent of the farms and warehouses in its direct supply chain at risk of sourcing from protected forest areas.

Barry Callebaut has mapped all cocoa farms within 5km from protected forest areas and all cocoa warehouses within 25km from protected forest areas. By the end of this year, the company will have mapped all the farms in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana it sources from, establishing 100 percent traceability for its direct supply chain. Overall, this means that 100 percent of the cocoa volume sourced in Ghana and 40 percent of the cocoa volume sourced in Côte d’Ivoire, by Barry Callebaut, is traceable.

Cocoa beans weighed and documented
Barry Callebaut has reportedly mapped 100 percent of the farms and warehouses in its direct supply chain at risk of sourcing from protected forest areas.

Enabling environments to achieve 100 percent traceability
To achieve 100 percent traceability in the cocoa supply chain, an enabling environment of government-mandated traceability is required. For example, the Ghanaian government has mandated the traceability of cocoa, which means that 100 percent of the cocoa volume Barry Callebaut sources in Ghana is traceable to a community level. As Barry Callebaut continues to work with governments on the implementation of CFI, they expect to see further acceleration of progress.

Forever Chocolate is Barry Callebauts plan to make sustainable chocolate the norm by 2025 to help ensure future supplies of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods. It supports the Cocoa Horizons Foundation in its goal to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future.