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When it comes to chocolate, Fairtrade is the name of the game. To help you make the right choice when buying, we show you four important seals and their differences.
Fairtrade chocolate – why is that?
Like many other consumer goods, chocolate is a mass product. It generates several billion euros in turnover every year. This development has its downsides.
- The chocolate sold in consumer countries is sold so cheaply that sustainable cultivation is almost impossible.
- The monopoly position of the chocolate giants Ferrero, Mars, Nestlé and Mondelez squeezes out the competition and pushes down selling prices even further.
- Cocoa farmers see almost nothing from sales.
Four fair trade labels in comparison
Fairtrade labels are important, so you should also know the differences. We have listed the advantages and disadvantages of four different labels for you:
- Fairtade – the most frequently used seal. Pro: Still considered very credible and widely used. Con: Only about half of the products are also organic. Since 2011, the “admission criteria” have been relaxed. From 50 percent fairly produced ingredients per product to 20 percent.
- GEPA – the strictest seal. Pro: Does not have a strong impact on the price despite strictness. Cons: Unfortunately very rarely found in mainstream supermarkets.
- UTZ – the seal for the discounter. Pro: UTZ focuses on high transparency and is appreciated for its analyses. Cons: Unfortunately, the criteria are loose and the evidence for the origin of the raw materials is dubious.
- Rainforest Alliance – only relevant to chocolate to a limited extent. Pro: The focus is not only on sustainability but also on improving production. Cons: Sustainability has tended to slip into the background for some years now; products from companies such as Nestlé can also bear this seal.
