Cocoa
Find out more about our approach to sourcing cocoa
- We will source 100% of the cocoa (by volume) we use in M&S brand products from verified sustainable sources by March 2017 (Achieved)
- We will engage in industry efforts to improve the sustainability of the cocoa sector through our membership of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) (Ongoing)
- We will support the efforts of CocoaAction through our membership of the WCF and our relationship with our key suppliers. In 2018, we also signed up to the WCF Cocoa & Forest Initiative (Ongoing)
- We will help encourage the engagement and action of cocoa traders through our work with the Retailer Cocoa Coalition.
- We will invest in programmes which enhance the lives of people in cocoa growing communities (Ongoing)
To understand our supply chain and work with our suppliers to secure a quality supply chain
- UTZ certified / Rainforest Alliance
- Fairtrade certified; or
- Third party verified HORIZONS cocoa
- Olam Livelihoods charter
We evaluate the programmes and expect them all to adhere to the following:
- Being third party independently verified or certified
- Robust approach to labour and human rights, including child labour
- Promoting more environmentally sustainable cocoa agriculture
- Promoting farmer livelihoods and productivity
M&S helped found the Retailer Cocoa Collaboration (RCC) in 2017 following the success of the Palm Oil Traceability Collaboration.
The aim of this pre-competitive group is to support existing industry efforts to drive improvements in the cocoa sector and, in doing so, better define the role of the retailer in this space. By taking a collaborative approach, the RCC enables retailers to develop the most efficient and effective model supporting change within the sector by engaging Traders in meaningful dialogue and minimising duplication of effort.
To support market transformation through working with industry partners, standard setting organisations and other stakeholders
To support programmes which enhance the lives of people and communities
Ivory Coast and Ghana are home to some of the world’s most precious rainforests yet this is decreasing at a rapid rate. A quarter of Ivory Coast was once covered by rainforest and this now covers less than 4% of the country. It is believed that 2.3 million hectares of rainforest in Ivory Coast and Ghana was cleared for cocoa farms between 1988 and 2007.
To combat this issue the governments of Ivory Coast and Ghana and thirty-three leading cocoa and chocolate companies have joined together in the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) to end deforestation and restore forest areas. M&S were one if the founding signatory companies.
In 2019, all members of the CFI were asked to develop an action plan to show how they will work on the following:
- Forest protection and restoration
- Sustainable cocoa production and farmers’ livelihoods
- Community engagement and social inclusion
It has been challenging to agree how retailers can meet the requirements of the CFI action plan when we are far removed from the supply chain and do not have any presence on the ground.
Around 95% of M&S' cocoa comes through CFI signature suppliers (the remainder is from countries that are not part of the CFI). Our approach has been to form the Retailer Cocoa Collaboration, a group of retailers who have come together to hold their cocoa suppliers to account in their work and commitment to the CFI. RCC agreed actions include:
- Public endorsement (where appropriate) of the Cocoa and Forests Initiative. This includes encouraging our traders and suppliers to commit to the 8 CFI principles as well as company specific communications.
- An ambition to map our collective supply chains so we know what percentage of our cocoa supply is from each trader.
- A commitment to assess cocoa traders’ performance against key sustainability indicators. This approach replicates that of the Palm Oil Transparency Coalition and acknowledges that the key lever for change within the cocoa supply chain for retailers is at the trading level.
- Following the assessment, understand how our current work on cocoa sustainability is supporting CFI. Where there are gaps, we will explore opportunities to support further.
- A commitment to bi-annual meetings as part of the Retailer Cocoa Collaboration.