This could be bad news for farmers: Green & Black’s is ditching the Fairtrade certification to use its own ‘Cocoa Life’ label on its newest chocolate bar.

The corporation built its name with organic Fairtrade products -- consumers buy its chocolate knowing that farmers in places like Belize have been compensated fairly for their work. If Green & Black’s drops Fairtrade, it could throw the entire system into chaos.

The new Cocoa Life label allows the corporation to set its own standards -- which leaves consumers in the dark about its effects on farmers and the planet.

We can’t let Green & Black’s turn its back on its values.

Green & Black's: you built your name making organic Fairtrade chocolate. Don’t abandon your values!

The Fairtrade program has been running for over 20 years, helping to resist worker exploitation and guaranteeing a ‘social premium’ which is directly controlled by local farmers for vital services such as healthcare and education.

Mondelez, which owns Green & Black’s, Cadbury’s and Nabisco, created Cocoa Life as an alternative to Fairtrade certification. But some claim the scheme would not meet the same standards as Fairtrade, as it’s not independently verified.

To add to the confusion, Mondelez has hired Fairtrade to monitor Cocoa Life’s performance, meaning the Fairtrade corporate logo (rather than its certification) would still feature on Cocoa Life-certified products.

Rachel Wilshaw, head of ethical trade at Oxfam GB, said, “There is a risk of shoppers being left confused as some brands and retailers move away from the Fairtrade scheme to introduce their own certification schemes.”

With big brands like Sainsbury’s also opting out of the scheme in favour of their own, Fairtrade’s very existence is under threat -- with one industry leader claiming it could “[represent] a tip in the balance back to the powerful retailers.”

When Mondelez didn’t pay its corporation tax in the UK, over 50,000 SumOfUs members like you signed our petition to let it know what you thought. When we stand together, we’re more powerful.

Tell Green & Black’s to stick to what it’s known for and keep the Fairtrade certification.

Green & Black’s: don’t ditch the Fairtrade certification -- we can’t let unverified alternative schemes undermine one that’s worked for over 20 years!

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