Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program
Our commitment to sustainability starts with a bean, a tree, and a farmer.
Our promise
Sustainability plays a key role at Lindt & Sprüngli. For us, economic success, environmental protection and social responsibility go hand in hand. This is reflected in our commitment to sustainability along the entire value chain and in our sustainability promise:
„All the products that leave our factories will ultimately live up to our commitment to sustainability along the entire value chain.“
Our approach
High-quality cocoa beans are the heart of our chocolates. We, at Lindt & Sprüngli, take on responsibility from the selection of the cocoa beans to the production of the finished chocolate products –
from “bean to bar”. That's why we developed our own sustainability program for cocoa beans: the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program. The cocoa beans in Lindt & Sprüngli's chocolates come from the Farming Program. The Program strives for ecologically and socially responsible cultivation and supports farmers, their families and their communities.
100% of our cocoa beans are traceable back to their origin and externally verified.
This allows us to support farmers and their communities based on their specific needs. It empowers farmers to manage their farms in accordance with sound agricultural, social, ecological, and economic practices. The engagement enables farmers to increase their yields and income, shows them how land for agriculture can be safeguarded in the long-term, and fosters access to farming equipment and village infrastructure.
Introducing the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program
Start of the Farming Program
in Ghana, with focus on traceability
and community development.
Extension of the Farming Program
to cover four pillars: traceability, training,
community support and verification.
Lindt Cocoa Foundation
is established.
Start of the Farming Program
in Ecuador.
Start of the Farming Program
in Madagascar.
Cocoa bean supply chain from Ghana
is 100% traceable and externally verified.
Start of the Farming Program
in Papua New Guinea.
Start of the Farming Program in the Dominican Republic.
All countries from which Lindt & Sprüngli sources cocoa beans are now part of the Farming Program.
Launch of the No-Deforestation and
Agroforestry Action Plan for Cocoa.
Interim goal reached:
100% traceable and externally verified cocoa bean supply
By 2025, 100% of cocoa will be sourced through sustainability programs.
Countries covered by the Farming Program
Lindt & Sprüngli sources its high-quality cocoa beans from the world's most renowned cocoa origins such as Ghana, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Madagascar and Papua New Guinea. The Farming Program is in place in all countries we source from.
In our countries of origins, cocoa production faces deep-rooted challenges. Small farms, old and diseased cocoa trees as well as limited agricultural practices can result in low yields and not enough income for farmers and their families. Poor infrastructure and a lack of access to farming equipment make production even more difficult. Finally, environmental challenges such as climate change and deforestation are crucial issues.
It is our priority to tackle these challenges and take on responsibility for a sustainable cocoa cultivation.
2008
2014
2015
2017
2018
The Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program consists of four pillars
Pillar 1: Traceability and farmer organization
Traceability is the basis of any sustainable activity.
Only if you know where the beans come from and who grew them can you specifically influence the local conditions.
We believe that farmers working together in groups are more successful and share their knowledge. That’s why we help our farmers to form groups.
Pillar 2: Training and knowledge transfer
The Program helps the farmers to improve and professionalize their way of farming by giving training and transferring knowledge. About 400 passionate Program Managers work with the cocoa farmers in the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program.
The Program trainers teach the farmers in the following fields:
Farmers learn everything from planting and harvesting to fermentation and drying of cocoa.
Training includes information about biodiversity, deforestation, handling of wild animals on the farm, usage of bio-fertilisers and the protection of the environment in general.
The farmers are sensitised on various topics such as child labour, health and safety, waste management, maintaining their health, safety and labour standards.
They learn how to manage their farms professionally as a business and increase their incomes by boosting productivity on their farms or diversify their income.
Pillar 3: Farmer investments
Farmers receive support and equipment for the professionalization of their farms.
Farmers often do not have access to farming and planting equipment. This is why the Farming Program invests in the set-up of farm shops, nurseries with new cocoa plants, demonstration plots where farmers learn about good agricultural practices, environmental protection products or pruning tools.
Pillar 3: Community development
The communities the farmers live in are supported in their development.
Quite often, the local communities lack access to clean drinking water. This is why wells and boreholes are constructed. Other investments include village resource centers that give access to information and communication technology infrastructure, mosquito nets for malaria protection or school refurbishments. Have a look at the progress of the community development in the short videos below.
Pillar 4: Continuous progress and verification
The external verification of our Program is an important step towards our overall aim of a sustainable long-term supply chain.
Within the internal monitoring & performance management system, field staff visit each farmer participating in the Farming Program at least once a year to see if the training content on agricultural, social, environmental and business aspects of farming is applied on the farms. Potential corrective actions are discussed together with the farmer and their implementation monitored. The ultimate aim is to measure the progress the farmers are making towards sustainable cocoa production and environmental friendly agriculture. The Earthworm Foundation visits each Program at least once a year to conduct external assessments, and to give recommendations for further improvement.
This enables the progress made to be verified.
Where we stand in terms of verification and traceability
In 2020, we achieved a 100% traceable and externally verified cocoa bean supply chain.
2017
92% cocoa beans traceable and verified cocoa beans traceable
2018
97% cocoa beans traceable and verified cocoa beans traceable
2019
97% cocoa beans traceable and verified cocoa beans traceable
2020
100% cocoa beans traceable and verified cocoa beans traceable
