The world of upscale dessert shops, where chocolate can be the star of the show, can cost consumers a bit more—an expected result. On the other end, where consumers are purchasing lower-cost chocolate from the standard market, chocolate bars are less expensive. This is basic business with well-known brands and those just providing a product, which is typically based on price.
But there’s something brewing behind access to this low-cost chocolate and keeping costs down in general: the cultivation and operational practices of growers that are not sustainable. There’s a list of social and economic factors here, but the problem covered here is more on the environmental side.
Consumers and buyers can consider some of these items for their future costs of materials or products at the retail level. Climate change, and the factors that are exacerbating it, may one day lead to the end of low-cost chocolate. Shopping for the product, while considering sustainable farming methods, can have vast implications on the future cost of your chocolate bar, and really the availability of chocolate, generally.
What does this mean?
This means that by shopping for chocolate, where the cacao was produced and cultivated sustainably, can lead to a future with lower cost chocolate and increase the availability. The consumer choice of their supply chain in the free market can lead to, essentially, keeping the cost of chocolate low over time. For the business serving it, this may have short-term costs, and it could cost a little more on the consumer side. But in the long run, we’ll have availability and a reasonably priced commodity that can be enjoyable by all. Is this green accounting? Yes. We’re considering the basic needs of production, health soil (for one), that is necessary to grow cacao.
If we leave climate change unchecked, it will drive up costs in the long term, even for some of humanity’s favorite treats.
Rundown of why it pays to purchase sustainable chocolate products
- Organic farming without pesticides helps mitigate climate change and promotes a healthier environment for growing cacao. Subsequently, this can lead to keeping prices stable (supply can demand).
- Shade-grown cacao reduces deforestation and helps to mitigate climate change. This also helps maintain a healthy growing environment for the future of cacao and keeps costs lower.
- Make sure the chocolate is grown in safe working environments with no child labor Fair wages for employees also promote more sustainable communities.
What are the basics of purchasing sustainable chocolate?
One way to identify whether your chocolate was grown sustainably is to watch for certifications such as the Rainforest Alliance and/or Fairtrade. These certifications promote environmental and positive socio-economic factors for the people that cultivate cacao. Purchasing organic chocolate helps with biodiversity and soil health and future climate change mitigation.
For those that are out on a shopping day, do online research or ask the store where you can find information on their supply chains. If we don’t think sustainably, using some of these measures listed here, the end result could lead to trouble for the products we all enjoy, at a cost that everyone can afford.