5 Chocolate Brands That Have Sustainably Grown Palm Oil

The world is waking up to the widespread destruction caused by palm oil. The demand for this cheap and versatile oil has led to its use in an astonishing array of products: from snacks and baked goods to cosmetics, soap and even biofuel.

But the rapid rise of palm oil production has come at a heavy cost to local communities and the environment. The production of palm oil can result in deforestation; when forests are cleared for plantations, it leads to carbon emissions and habitat loss for animals such as orangutans.

Additionally, developers often exploit poor locals as cheap labor with little regard for their safety or long-term welfare. Furthermore, the pesticides used on palm plantations have been linked to human rights violations and poisoned drinking water in several areas where they are common.

As a result, many consumers have begun avoiding products that contain palm oil, or making a conscious effort to purchase them from companies that responsibly source palm oil.

What’s Wrong with Palm Oil?

One of the most common ingredients found in processed foods is palm oil. It’s a cheap and readily available source of fat that has been used for decades in everything from margarine to soap to makeup.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with palm oil, but it’s a controversial ingredient that some people feel should be avoided because it’s linked to climate change, deforestation and the endangerment of orangutans. Palm oil is also one of the main causes of deforestation in Indonesia, which is home to an estimated 93% of all orangutans.

While there are no strict regulations on palm oil production, many believe that more should be done to protect endangered species such as orangutans and rainforest ecosystems. One way to do this is to avoid palm oil when possible and choose products that use other plant-based oils instead.

What is Responsibly-Sourced Palm Oil?

Some companies have made the commitment to responsibly grow or source their palm oil.

Responsibly-sourced palm oil refers to palm oil that is produced in a way that minimizes its environmental and social impact. This typically involves adhering to specific sustainability standards and principles throughout the production process.

Some key elements of responsibly-sourced palm oil include:

Environmental Conservation: Practices that protect biodiversity, including the conservation of high conservation value (HCV) and high carbon stock (HCS) areas, as well as the prevention of deforestation, peatland conversion, and habitat destruction.

Social Responsibility: Ensuring fair treatment and welfare of workers, respecting the rights of local communities, and adhering to principles of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for any land-use changes or developments.

Transparency and Traceability: Implementing systems to track palm oil from plantation to consumer, allowing for verification of its origins and adherence to sustainability standards.

Certification: Many organizations offer certification schemes for palm oil production, such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), which provide assurance that certain environmental and social criteria are met.

By promoting the responsible production of palm oil, stakeholders aim to mitigate the negative impacts associated with conventional palm oil production, such as deforestation, habitat destruction, greenhouse gas emissions, and human rights abuses.

Here are 5 companies committed to this cause when producing their chocolate.

Hershey’s

Hershey’s has a strong commitment to sustainability. The company’s Cocoa Sustainability Program has been in place since 2007, and the company aims to source 100% certified sustainable cocoa by 2020.

Certified sustainable cocoa has been produced according to environmentally responsible and socially responsible practices, as verified by independent third-party organizations. Hershey’s has partnered with Rainforest Alliance, UTZ and the International Cocoa Initiative to achieve its sustainability goals.

Ghirardelli

Ghirardelli has made a concerted effort to source only sustainable cocoa. The company partnered with Rainforest Alliance to become certified as sustainable in 2005. In 2013, Ghirardelli expanded its partnership with Rainforest Alliance to include all ingredients in the products, not just cocoa.

Ghirardelli has also partnered with the Cocoa Harvesting and Workers Fair Trade Association (CHWFA) and UTZ to source sustainably.

Lindt

Lindt has a strong commitment to sustainability and partnerships with sustainability organizations such as UTZ and the Rainforest Alliance. Lindt has committed to sourcing 100% certified sustainable cocoa by 2020. Lindt has partnered with UTZ to achieve its sustainability goals.

Russell Stover

Russell Stover sources fair trade cocoa from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms.

Dove

Dove is a member of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which is an organization that works to improve the sustainability of palm oil production.

While Dove’s parent company, Unilever, sources palm oil from RSPO-approved plantations, Dove itself does not source palm oil. However, Dove has committed to only using palm oil that is certified sustainable by 2021.

Health Benefits Of Chocolate

Chocolate is a food that is known to be both tasty and healthy. When consumed regularly, chocolate can help boost your energy level, improve your mood, and increase your overall sense of well-being. Here are some of the health benefits of chocolate:

There are many types of chocolate, but most contain cocoa powder or cocoa beans. Cocoa powder is made from the cocoa bean and contains healthy nutrients like magnesium and fiber. The fiber in cocoa powder may help lower blood cholesterol levels.

Chocolate can also help improve mental clarity. Research has shown that people who eat chocolate regularly have sharper memories and better concentration skills than people who do not consume chocolate.

In addition to these benefits, regular consumption of dark chocolate may help protect against certain diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Does White Chocolate Have More Palm Oil Than Milk Chocolate

White chocolate is a popular choice for those who love milk chocolate. It is also an excellent choice for those who are looking for a healthier chocolate option. However, there is more palm oil in white than milk chocolate. Palm oil can be found in many foods and is often used as a food additive because of its high melting point and fat content.

This makes it a common ingredient in many products, including milk chocolate from Nestle.
White chocolate only contains 1 gram of fat per serving, compared to 7 grams in milk chocolate. But because milk chocolate contains milk, it actually has more fat per serving than white chocolate does.

The Nestle white chocolate bar has 4 grams of fat, while the milk chocolate bar has 6 grams of fat per serving.

It’s important to keep this in mind when choosing healthy snacks or desserts that include both types of chocolates.

Bottom line

Palm oil production has caused deforestation and other environmental damage, as well as human rights violations. Many chocolate brands have committed to using sustainable cocoa, which is produced without palm oil. You can avoid palm oil by choosing brands that are certified sustainable and that do not list palm oil as an ingredient.