Our Sourcing Ethos
We’re passionate about the future of chocolate and the people who grow it; and bet you are, too. We’re proud to ethically source our chocolate from Peru, West Africa, Tanzania, and the Dominican Republic; and we do everything we can to ensure that our supply chain is putting people and the planet first.
Here’s what we look at to make sure that happens:
Sustainability: The future of the world and chocolate
The locations that can grow cocoa are precious ecosystems that must be protected. The climate crisis is already negatively impacting cocoa production around the world, and it’s up to chocolate makers (and eaters!) to do what we can to fight climate change. The farmers we work with must be stewards of the land, protecting natural resources and the environment by using land, water, and energy carefully.
For example, farmers on the Rainforest Alliance Certified farms we source from use fewer artificial fertilizers and pesticides. They learn how to preserve forested and protected areas, which in turn helps support the biodiversity of plants and animals. Farmers are trained to monitor soil fertility, water availability, erosion, tree spacing, compost preparation, and more to cope with and combat climate change. We also chose to source from Peru because cocoa is indigenous to this region of the world, and thrives naturally without needing to be fertilized or irrigated.
Sourcing cocoa sustainably means protecting natural resources and fighting climate change, while also taking care of the people who work the land.
Farmers' Livelihood
It’s imperative that the farmers we work with are paid well and able to live quality lives with their families. Whenever possible, as is the case in Peru, Tanzania, and the Dominican Republic, we directly source from the farmers who grow the beans used in our chocolate. When trading directly, we can cut out any middlemen and personally ensure that farmers are paid fairly and able to thrive in this industry for years to come. Our Peruvian cocoa beans are also roasted and lightly processed into liquor in Peru, leaving more of the funds at origin.
In locations where we aren’t
able to work directly with farmers,
we’re proud to source Rainforest
Alliance Certified cocoa.
Rainforest Alliance’s approach to enabling living incomes centers on helping farmers grow their businesses and become more profitable and resilient. Three studies published in 2018-2020 reveal that income from cocoa production is 40% higher on average on Rainforest Alliance Certified farms in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, compared to non-certified farms.
In 2024 we expanded our giving mission to support cocoa farmers, particularly women, in Ghana - click here to learn more about the exciting projects happening there.
Ethical Labor
As a company that is guided by
doing the right thing, we have no
tolerance for forced or unethical
labor.
One of the reasons we source from Peru is because their healthy ecosystem means that forced labor isn’t an issue - and paying farmers fairly ensures they can avoid the economic challenges that result in child labor, deforestation, and other harmful outcomes. Our team and partners are on the ground often, and able to see that the farms are being run well and fairly.
Rainforest Alliance Certified farms are also monitored for human rights violations such as child labor, forced labor, discrimination or workplace violence, and harassment. Given the high risk of such violations in some cocoa supply chains, they require farms and groups to put rigorous systems in place, which include doing a risk assessment and implementing related mitigation measures, conducting regular self-monitoring, and remediating any known cases of such violations.
Taste
After making sure that our people and planet are being taken care of, it’s time to think about one more very important part of chocolate-making: the taste! At the end of the day, each specific product we make uses the chocolate that makes its ingredients sing, from 33% African chocolate to 61% Peruvian chocolate - and everything in between. Our irresistibly fun inclusions like popping candy, sprinkles, and toffee are always clean and carefully chosen. Our goal is to create the best bite you’ll ever take, which you can enjoy freely knowing we’ve thought of everything else.
So go ahead, take a bite.
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At Seattle Chocolate, we know it’s our responsibility to protect our people and our planet. We’re proud that our chocolate feels as good as it tastes — thanks for joining us on this journey!