Back in March 2017, Mars met with 12 of the biggest chocolate companies in order to launch their statement regarding their intent to end deforestation and forest degradation in their cocoa supply chains.
The event was organised and featured HRH the Prince of Wales International Sustainability Unit (I.S.U) the World Cocoa Foundation (W.C.F) and The Sustainable Trade Initiative (i.D.H)
Mars was one of many confectionery companies who agreed to take part in an ongoing effort to end deforestation, mainly focusing on Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana which is where the majority of cocoa is grown.
The target has been set for November to set up a plan to prevent the cocoa growers from damaging tropical forests. Along with the governments from many countries including those across Europe and UK the plans will be broadcast at the UN climate change conference in November 2017.
Mars states the importance of responsibility - one of their five listed principles. The event marks an important step forward into the future, and working with many other companies look forward to tackling these deforestation issues.
“The results of deforestation would undermine the very resilience of the cocoa sector itself, and with it, the livelihoods of the millions of smallholders who depend on it.”