UK Cocoa Coalition – summary
- Major chocolate makers join NGOs to push stronger UK sustainability regulation
- Coalition members aim to eliminate deforestation from cocoa supply chains
- Shared standards expected to increase transparency and improve farmer livelihoods
- UK influence means changes could reshape global cocoa sourcing practices
- Industry alignment signals long‑term commitment to responsible chocolate production
Barry Callebaut, Ferrero, The Hershey Company and Tony’s Chocolonely have announced they’re joining the UK Cocoa Coalition.
The Coalition, which also includes NGOs (Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade Foundation, WWF, International Cocoa Initiative, Sustainable Trade Initiative, and VOICE Network), and supermarkets (Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, and Waitrose) is calling for swift implementation of the UK Forest Risk Commodities Regulation to help drive responsibly-sourced cocoa supply chains.
The move marks a significant moment for the industry, demonstrating a collective commitment to sustainably-sourced cocoa, and a shared goal of implementing “effective legislation and policy to support farmer livelihoods, address human rights violations, and tackle illegal deforestation”.
The UK is the world’s third largest market for chocolate confectionery, meaning this really does have the potential to drive significant change across global cocoa supply chains.
“Ferrero is committed to a deforestation free cocoa supply chain and we are an active advocate of the Forest Risk Commodities regulation,” says Richard Laming, head of public affairs at Ferrero UK. “But we know that one single entity cannot address the challenges the cocoa industry is facing alone. We must combine efforts to drive positive impact for farmers and forests. We are proud to be part of the new multi-stakeholder UK Cocoa Coalition, and we remain committed to playing our part, together with the industry, to achieve our shared goal of building a more resilient and sustainable cocoa supply chain.”
A sentiment shared by others in the industry.
“We believe that real change in cocoa starts with shared responsibility and clear, consistent sourcing principles and rules,” says Belinda Borck, public affairs lead at Tony’s Chocolonely. “Companies can’t solve illegal deforestation and ongoing human rights violations alone, but with strong, aligned legislation, we can shift the system together.”
A new standard for sustainable cocoa
As more major manufacturers align themselves with NGOs and retailers under a shared regulatory agenda, the UK Cocoa Coalition is signalling a decisive shift – sustainability is no longer a competitive differentiator but an industry baseline.
This can only be good news for the future of cocoa. By rallying behind shared standards and stronger regulation, the industry is laying the groundwork for more resilient farming communities, healthier forests, and a marketplace where ethical production is the norm rather than the exception. Oh, and cocoa-based chocolate will be around for many more years to come.
