On one hand, the global chocolate and cocoa sector contributes to an annual carbon footprint of 65-75 million tCO2e/year. On the other hand, the sector is directly impacted by climate change. Changes in rainfall patterns and temperatures can exacerbate challenges in cocoa farming, leading to increased costs, reduced yields, and potential disruptions in logistics efficiency.
"Both the increasingly urgent need to adapt to climate change in the main cocoa-growing countries and reduce climate emissions within companies' supply chains are receiving more and more attention," says SWISSCO Executive Director Christian Robin.
The SWISSCO Roadmap 2030 reflects this increasing importance through various specific targets in the impact area of “deforestation-free and climate-friendly cocoa supply chains” aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 and 15.
Why are SBTi standards so important in climate action?
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is an organisation dedicated to empowering companies worldwide to align with the requirements of climate science within the global economy: to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve Net Zero before 2050.
Over the past decade, the SBTi standards for corporates, including both large organisations and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), have emerged as the most widely used and trusted standards for greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
SWISSCO advocates for cocoa and chocolate companies to commit to the SBTi standards to meet these targets. Through the publication of "Guidance Document: Achieving the SBTi standards for Near-term Science-based Targets and the Net Zero Targets in Cocoa," SWISSCO helps its members on their journey towards achieving Net Zero emissions.
How can SWISSCO members contribute to protecting climate and forests?
The Guidance Document is part of SWISSCO’s overall approach to support members in tackling the challenges in the areas of climate and forest protection.
SWISSCO members can continuously improve their practices by:
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Strengthening peer learning and active knowledge management among members.
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Facilitating supply chain partnerships by fostering collaboration on carbon reductions and removals among farmers, traders, processors, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.
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Tackling the financing challenge by identifying investment needs and opportunities to transition into regenerative cocoa production models.
You can access the Guidance Document by clicking on the buttons below for both the full and short versions.
SWISSCO (2024): Guidance Document: Achieving the SBTi standards
SWISSCO (2024): Guidance Document – Short Version: Achieving the SBTi standards