Trace. Sustain. Collaborate. Why Leading the Charge to End Child and Forced Labor in the Cocoa Industry is Important
Simply recognizing that unethical practices in the cocoa industry take place does not directly resolve the issues.
By Denzel Torres
I’ve witnessed firsthand the heartbreak of Puerto Rican farmers and businesses being pushed out by American companies. Some American companies have taken over the local produce of the farmers and related small business owners, who are then unable to continue making enough money to provide for themselves. Instead, they get bought out by these companies and have to work for them, sometimes at a lower salary instead of being able to grow as independent business owners.
This is not just a struggle in Puerto Rico: it's an industry-wide problem in the world. Many farmers in areas like Ghana and the Ivory Coast, where most of the world’s cocoa is produced, live in poverty. This creates human rights, environmental and equity issues. Companies like Tony’s Chocolonely are very appreciated in places like Puerto Rico (my home), Ghana and Ivory Coast, because they provide local farmers and companies with financial stability and benefits.
Tony’s Chocolonely, while a small company compared to the corporate giants, is making small but steady progress in creating fair working conditions and produce for cocoa farmers and related companies. Obviously, consumers, including college students, could better help farmers by paying a little more for a higher quality product, knowing that their purchases directly support farmers, laborers and ethical work practices.
Tony’s Chocolonely was created to fight unfair labor practices in the chocolate industry, such as the use of child labor and slave labor by the large chocolate producers. Helping farmers who grow cocoa beans in West Africa, Tony's Chocolonely supports ethical production and fair trade, while supporting the farmers with a fair wage.
As consumers, OC college students can purchase from companies like Tony's Chocolonely to support their mission of tracing their 100% ethically sourced chocolate, sustaining the environment and collaborating with farmers by ensuring equitable pay. While ethically sourced products like Tony’s cost a little more than those made with unfair labor, the cost is not very much compared to the benefits to those Tony’s seeks to help.
Consumers can also support companies like Tony’s in ways that do not cost any money, such as spreading awareness or sharing on social media. With small steps like these, OC students can make ethical work practices, especially in the farming industry, more common for those who produce chocolate.
In October and November, Communication students at OC initiated a campaign called Chocolate Without Chains to promote Tony’s Chocolonely and their mission for 100% ethically sourced chocolate with no child or forced labor. Their hope is that this campaign will inspire their peers and the community to support Tony’s Chocolonely and the fight for freedom in industries with child and forced labor.
The OC student-run PR firm, Eagle PR, is emphasizing three important ways Tony’s Chocolonely is fighting for change in the cocoa industry (all things the big chocolate producers are not doing).
-Trace the source of every cocoa bean to ensure it is ethically sourced.
-Sustain the farmers with equitable pay.
-Collaborate with cocoa farmers and build long-lasting relationships.
The global community should prioritize supporting companies whose missions align with Tony’s Chocolonely’s. With every Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate bar, consumers like OC students take a step toward a brighter future in the cocoa industry and hopefully one day, a brighter world. Learn more about what OC students are doing at www.unwrapthestory.com.
Denzel Torres, a native of Costa Rica, is a Public Relations and Social Media junior at Oklahoma Christian University. He is active in Eagle PR, the university’s student-run PR firm.