Organic chocolate does not need child labour

Transcription

Organic chocolate does not need child labour
EcoFinia press-release:
Organic chocolate does not need child labour
Producers and consumers should be aware of their responsibilities
[15.02.2012] Media reports are once more highlighting the fact
that children are being used as slaves in certain regions of West
Africa. Children between the ages of 10 and 14 on cocoa
plantations which supply cocoa to many international chocolate
manufacturers, are working without pay, are being underfed and
falling sick from pesticides. The producers of organic and fair
trade chocolate are acting in a more responsible manner.
The cocoa fruit needed to produce chocolate still has to be harvested by hand in a complicated and
expensive manner. The accusations which major producers deny out of hand are often harsh
reality. In many places children are being used to undertake this laborious task. Media reports
claim that some chocolate producers are closing their eyes to this fact because all they are doing is
buying the raw material for making chocolate. Nonetheless if the work was more strictly controlled
this would prevent the use of child labour. This is the case with the organic chocolate produced by
the German market leader VIVANI*. Andreas Meyer, CEO of the VIVANI manufacturer EcoFinia
GmbH, says that producers should be more aware of their responsibilities. “It goes without saying
that we have to look very closely at where we get our cocoa. We have a duty to ensure that both
people and the natural environment are protected.”
The cocoa used in VIVANI organic chocolate comes from certified organic plantations run by
farming cooperatives in Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. Andreas Meyer paid a personal visit
to the plantations in order to get a closer idea of the life of the farmers and to assess the quality of
the organic farming. He reported back that: “In Latin America the structures are different from
those in most parts of Africa – they allow a higher standard of living. Here farmers and their
families are working their own land and joining forces as co-operative ventures often to market
their products”. In the last analysis this benefits the environment. For the biologically grown cocoa
trees grow in a natural environment – the South American rainforest – on the farmers’ own land.
Thanks to higher prices for organic cocoa on the world markets the farmers are able to earn a
higher income, and can use part of this, for example to engage workers to help with the harvest.
This enables them to send their children to school.
Most of the child workers in West Africa are not in such a happy situation but consumers can help
to improve their condition Andreas Meyer emphasises that “All chocolate lovers have to decide for
themselves what price they are willing to pay. If they opt for organic or fair trade chocolate they
can be fairly certain that no one in the manufacturing chain is being exploited for their labour”
!
!
*Source: bioVista evaluation 01.2010-06.2010
Press contact:
EcoFinia GmbH | Erinstr. 8, 44575 Castrop-Rauxel | Phone: 02305-33030 | Fax: 02305-540202
ASP: Alexander Kuhlmann | Email: [email protected] | Internet: www.vivani-schokolade.de

Similar documents

Global Gasoline and Oil Additives Market Analysis,Segment,Trends and Forecasts:Acute Market Reports

Global Gasoline and Oil Additives Market Analysis,Segment,Trends and Forecasts:Acute Market Reports This package contains 11 gasoline and oil additive market analyses from the following American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, United States and Uruguay Browse Full Report with Toc Visit: http://www.acutemarketreports.com/report/gasoline-and-oil-additives-america-market The gasoline and oil additive market analyses give an overview of the actual situation, trends and future outlook of the gasoline and oil additive markets in different American countries. The market analyses provide essential market information for decision-makers including

More information

Chocolate, Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets

Chocolate, Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets The industry report package Chocolate,Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets in Western Europe to 2019 Market Size,Development,and Forecasts offers the most up-to-date market data on the actual market situation,and future outlook for chocolate,cocoa and sugar confectionery in different Western European countries. The package includes chocolate,cocoa and sugar confectionery country reports from the following countries: Austria,Belgium,Denmark,Finland,France,Germany,Ireland,Italy,Netherlands,Norway,Portugal,Spain, Sweden,United Kingdom

More information

Global Chocolate, Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Market

Global Chocolate, Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Market Global Chocolate,Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Market to 2019 - Market Size,Development,Top 10 Countries,and Forecasts

More information

Chocolate,Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets in Europe to 2019 - Market Size,Development,and Forecasts by Acute Market Reports

Chocolate,Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets in Europe to 2019 - Market Size,Development,and Forecasts by Acute Market Reports The industry report package Chocolate,Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets in Europe to 2019 Market Size,Development,and Forecasts offers the most up-to-date market data on the actual market situation,and future outlook for chocolate,cocoa and sugar confectionery in different European countries. The package includes chocolate,cocoa and sugar confectionery country reports from the following countries: Armenia,Austria,Azerbaijan,Belgium,Bulgaria,Czech,Republic,Denmark,Estonia,Finland,France Georgia,Germany,Greece,Hungary,Ireland,Italy,Latvia,Lithuania,Macedonia,Moldova,Netherlands, Norway,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Slovakia,Slovenia,Spain,Sweden,Turkey,Ukraine,United Kingdom

More information

Chocolate,Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets in the Top 5 American Countries

Chocolate,Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets in the Top 5 American Countries Chocolate,Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets in the Top 5 American Countries to 2019 - Market Size,Development,and Forecasts

More information

Chocolate, Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets in the World to 2019

Chocolate, Cocoa and Sugar Confectionery Markets in the World to 2019 The expansion of the global chocolate,cocoa and sugar confectionery industry is forecast to reach 2.3% p.a. in the coming years. Between 2008 and 2014 the market increased with an average annual growth of 6.2%. Currently,chocolate bars,blocks and slabs account for 15.4% of the global demand while the remaining markets.

More information