Ferrero scales up sustainability and traceability

Ferrero looks to scale up its cocoa sustainability program and the traceability across its supply chain after it achieved its goals for last year.

The confectionery brand achieved its 2020 target of 100% sustainable cocoa sourced through independently managed standards set by organisations such as Rainforest Alliance (UTZ), Fairtrade and Cocoa Horizons.

The pledge was made in 2011 to help improve cocoa farmers’ living conditions and foster sustainable practices. In 2019, the company broadened the scope of this target to include the chocolate sourced from third parties.

Marco Gonçalves, Chief Procurement & Hazelnut Company Officer, said the company also continues to address the crucial human rights issues around its supply chains and to strengthen due diligence.

The company reported strong progress on reaching 100% traceability across its cocoa supply chain with Ferrero being able to trace more than 95% of its total cocoa beans back to the farms in the 2019/20 crop season. It also said it is strongly advancing on the traceability of the chocolate sourced from third parties.

The company also said it is making considerable progress on mapping the farmers in its supply chain as part of its commitment to prevent deforestation, and on covering farmer groups with a Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System or equivalent systems.

Ferrero and Save the Children expand partnership

Ferrero announced that it is renewing and extending its strategic partnership with Save the Children, building on the three-year program launched in 2017 in 20 communities across Côte D’Ivoire.

The co-funded project is anticipated to last for five years. It is expected to directly benefit 37,000 children and adults, and a total of 90,000 through mass awareness and outreach activities. This is a major action pledge as part of the UN’s International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour.

Gonçalves said child labour in cocoa-growing communities remains a significant issue, and the company is determined to go further to meet the challenge.

“That is why I am so pleased that we are extending our partnership with Save the Children with a particular focus on prevention to grow our impact on this issue. That way we can help drive meaningful long-term change, not only in our direct supply chain but also beyond.”

The renewed partnership will see scaled-up activities in 65 communities in the Ivorian Haut-Sassandra region where Ferrero sources a significant amount of cocoa. The holistic program will strengthen child protection systems, increase access to quality education and nutrition, support community development and empower women and adolescents.

Ferrero and Save the Children will closely coordinate with national and local authorities and other industry initiatives to create synergies where possible and maximise impact.

A new dimension in the partnership will be for Save the Children to provide strategic guidance and technical support to Ferrero and its suppliers to ensure a harmonised approach on child protection across Ferrero’s supply chain in Ivory Coast and Ghana.

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