John Myers
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Many consumers also pay attention to the Fairtrade seal when it comes to chocolate. So that you make the right choice when purchasing, we will show you four important seals and their differences.
Fairtrade chocolate – why?
Like many other consumer goods, chocolate is a mass product. It generates annual sales of several billion euros. This development has its downsides.
- The chocolate sold in the consumer countries is sold so cheaply that sustainable cultivation is almost impossible.
- The monopoly of the chocolate giants Ferrero, Mars, Nestlé, and Mondelez drives out the competition and pushes down the selling prices even further.
- The cocoa farmers see almost nothing of the turnover.
Four Fairtrade seals in comparison
This is precisely why Fairtrade seals are important. Again, you should know the differences. We have listed the advantages and disadvantages of four different predicates for you:
- Fairtrade – the most commonly used seal. Pro: Still considered very credible and widely used.
- Cons: Only about half of the products are also organic. Since 2011, the “admission criteria” have been relaxed. From 50% fairly manufactured ingredients per product to 20%.
- GEPA – the strictest seal. Pros: Doesn’t have a major impact on price despite being strict.
- Cons: Unfortunately only very rarely found in the usual supermarkets.
- UTZ – the seal for the discounter. Pro: UTZ relies on high transparency and is valued for its analyses.
- Cons: Unfortunately, the criteria are loose and the evidence for the origin of the raw materials is dubious.
- Rainforest Alliance – only partially relevant for chocolate. Pro: In addition to sustainability, the focus is also on improving production.
- Cons: Sustainability has been taking a back seat for a number of years, and products from companies like Nestlé can also bear this seal.
