Monrovia (AFP) – Some of the world’s best-known chocolate brands, from Mars to KitKat, are likely linked to deforestation in Liberia’s rainforest, despite many companies’ claims of sustainability. This assertion comes from research published by the NGO Global Witness on Tuesday. Liberia is home to the largest remaining stretch of the Upper Guinean rainforest, which also hosts multiple endangered species, such as chimpanzees and forest elephants.
Between 2021 and 2024, Liberia lost approximately 250,000 hectares (618,000 acres) of forest in the country’s largest cocoa-producing counties, known as the “cocoa belt.” High prices for cocoa, combined with crop failures in neighboring cocoa-producing nations, have spurred a surge in Liberia’s cocoa exportation and an expansion of farms. Cocoa exporters heavily rely on rural traders in the region who buy cocoa beans indiscriminately, including those linked to deforestation.
The report claims that companies mix “traceable, certified cocoa with untraceable beans” under a certification program that allows them to label their chocolate as sustainable. The study states that its findings implicate corporate giants, including Hershey, Mondelez (Cadbury), Nestle, Unilever, and Mars. Global Witness investigator Charlie Hammans noted that “big brands are buying untraceable bulk cocoa that hides a massive deforestation footprint.”
This report comes as the EU parliament is poised to vote on delaying the rollout of a law that would ban imports of products contributing to deforestation until the end of 2026. The proposed law would require companies selling products in Europe, such as chocolate, to prove that they are fully traceable and free from deforestation.
Global Witness analyzed customs data showing all cocoa exports from Liberia by cargo ship over the last three years. The organization also utilized tree cover loss data for Bong, Nimba, and Lofa Counties to determine the extent of forest loss in the cocoa belt. In addition to cocoa, Global Witness pointed out that small-scale agriculture, mining, palm oil, and rubber production are also likely significant contributors to forest loss.
© 2024 AFP
