Mars Chocolate Steps Toward Sustainable Cocoa

by Amanda Kloer · 2009-04-10 07:00:00 UTC
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Following the lead of Cadbury, Mars Incorporated (the company which makes Snickers, Twix and M&Ms) announced yesterday that they will be teaming up with the Rainforest Alliance to make their chocolate more sustaianable.  Since Mars is one of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers, this is a huge step towards better conditions in the cocoa industry.

White the company fell short of making promises regarding all their brands, they did agree to buy enough Rainforest Alliance Certified™ by 2010 to give the Galaxy chocolate bar, (popular in the UK), seal of approval.  Sadly, this leaves us U.S.-based Snickers addicts out. 

Mars' commitment to buying sustainable cocoa is unprecedented in size and scope, and the benefits to farmers, farmworkers, tropical environments and wildlife will be tangible," said Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. "This initiative is an example of the tremendous impact global companies can have when they commit to sustainability. I have recently returned from Ghana, where I saw firsthand the problems, the improvements and the possibilities."

Human trafficking, child labor and other abuses are rampant in many African cocoa farms, making huge portions of the world's chocolate produced by slaves.  I hope Mars continues to move in the right direction and maintain their commitments to slavery-free chocolate.

Image from ericguynes.com

Amanda Kloer is a Change.org Editor and has been a full-time abolitionist in several capacities for seven years. Follow her on Twitter @endhumantraffic
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