Tesco and the Rainforest Alliance make cocoa more sustainable this Christmas

Tesco increases the amount of Rainforest Alliance Certified™ cocoa for its own label chocolate products, including advent calendars, chocolate coins and Santas.

Every year, Tesco sources over 8,000 tonnes of cocoa from around the globe to go into their own label products such as chocolate bars, biscuits, cakes, desserts and cereals. That’s the equivalent weight of more than 600 double decker buses! And over the Christmas period, many of us will indulge in more chocolate than we would at other times of the year.

We don’t often think about where our chocolate comes from, but both Tesco and the Rainforest Alliance know there are some big environmental and social challenges linked to cocoa production, such as risk of child labour and deforestation. That’s why we’ve been working together to ensure Tesco’s cocoa is sustainably sourced in a way that helps the farmers who grow and harvest the crop, as well as their families, communities and the planet. In fact, Tesco made a commitment that by the end of 2018, all the cocoa in their own label products will be responsibly sourced. As part of this commitment we’re really excited that by the end of 2017, the cocoa required to make over 60 products on Tesco’s shelves will now be from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ sources. Many of those products have been specially introduced for the festive period, including an advent calendar, chocolate coins, reindeers and Santas.

Cocoa farms that meet comprehensive standards of agricultural, environmental and social best practices earn the Rainforest Alliance Certified “frog” seal – you can look out for the frog on packaging! By buying Tesco’s Rainforest Alliance Certified chocolate products, customers are helping to protect forests and wildlife, and support communities in cocoa producing nations. 

As part of our growing partnership with Tesco, we are also working together to identify other products beyond cocoa which could be sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Already, much progress has been made: 30% of Tesco’s own brand tea is sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms and 100% of Tesco’s bananas and fresh whole coconuts sold in the UK are from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.

The collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance supports the Tesco Little Helps Plan and the ambition to ensure customers can buy high quality, affordable and sustainable products in all their stores.