Ferrero is celebrating several critical achievements in sustainability, including significant reforestation efforts across West Africa where much of the cocoa that Australians enjoy in Ferrero products is grown.
In partnership with the Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana governments and leading cocoa organisations, Ferrero has published its third annual report showcasing the progress of the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI).
While the COVID-19 pandemic presented enormous challenges for cocoa farmers and suppliers, many important goals were achieved.
Ferrero has now distributed three million trees since commencing its CFI action plan in 2018, with two million trees in 2020-2021 alone, and has doubled its initial target for land covered by deforestation risk assessments in 2022. More than 500,000 trees were distributed for off-farm planting, helping to restore forests.
Massimo D’Ambrosio, Managing Director of Ferrero Australia and New Zealand, said that World Chocolate Day (7 July) is a great opportunity to highlight Ferrero’s ongoing efforts to improve the lives of people in cocoa-growing communities and support reforestation initiatives.
“Our cocoa supply chain is 96 per cent traceable to farm level, which enables us to drive positive change with cooperatives and farmers, and 100 per cent of our cocoa is certified as sustainable through international standards such as Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade.”
Ferrero also recently published its second annual full list of suppliers and farmer groups as part of the company’s commitment to be transparent on cocoa sourcing.
In 2020-21, Ferrero sourced about 90 per cent of its cocoa volume from farmer groups with whom the company has a long-term relationship. About 75 per cent of cocoa is sourced as cocoa beans, which are physically traceable from farm to Ferrero’s factories.
The Cocoa and Forests Initiative and annual disclosure of Ferrero’s supply chain, alongside its long time membership of the World Cocoa Foundation and the International Cocoa Initiative, are part of Ferrero’s wider commitment to deliver on its sustainability strategy – to improve farmers’ livelihoods, protect human rights, and safeguard the environment.
