At Chocolatemakers, we have 10 years of making an impact and bringing about real change on the counter. And yes, we do that by making delicious chocolate. Chocolate where taste is key. We believe that the right choice can be - and MUST be - the tastiest choice. Only then will consumers make the right choice in the supermarket with a smile.
Real change and sustainable choices were already important ten years ago, but the recent UN climate report shows that it is no longer a choice, but an absolute necessity. We can no longer afford to damage our planet's crucial ecosystems. Companies can do much to positively influence climate change. All companies, not just charities. Chocolatemakers is not a non-profit organisation, not a charity and not a hobby. We are proof that with honest, sustainable and smart business practices, you can definitely be a profitable company. But one that contributes to the solution, not the problem.
The forest stays as long as it pays'.
Cocoa cannot grow everywhere. The trees are dependent on the tropical rainforest climate and the presence of spider monkeys who, because they can hang onto the tree with their tails, have their hands free to break open the pods and eat the pulp. The seeds fall to the ground in the process - this is the only way the cocoa trees can reproduce.
The deforestation of rainforests is a way of generating income for the local population. By planting a buffer zone of cocoa trees at the edge of the rainforest (with enough shade plants for a diverse ecosystem), income can be generated without having to cut down the rainforest. That is where the real change happens. An alternative to deforestation, the only way to protect the rainforest.
Every origin is different
We source our cocoa beans from four different origins: Congo, Peru, Colombia and from the Dominican Republic. Each region and ecosystem has its own challenges and needs. Read here what we are doing in each origin to bring about real change.