Mondelez partners with FLOCERT for Cocoa Life Program

MONDELEZ International has entered into a partnership with FLOCERT for its $400 million Cocoa Life program.

Impact-focused and independently verified Cocoa Life will use a customised version of FLOCERT’s FLOTIS reporting system to confirm the quantity of sustainably grown and traded cocoa. The system will also be used to verify premium payments made by Cocoa Life to farmer organisations. The contract will run for three years, with an option to extend until 2022.

The FLOTIS reporting system from FLOCERT, a socially focused global certification body, will complete the Cocoa Life verification framework, whose importance has been acknowledged by major cocoa processors such as Barry Callebaut and Cargill. FLOTIS will complement the evaluation done by the Harvard University research team on the program impact on the ground, which was announced in June 2014.

FLOTIS, which was originally developed to monitor Fairtrade certification, enables FLOCERT to support verification programs such as Cocoa Life. The comprehensive monitoring tool enables transparent transactions reporting and supplies statistical data for its evaluation, all of which help assure and facilitate fair trading processes.  

Rudiger Meyer, CEO of FLOCERT and Cathy Pieters, Cocoa Life Program Director

Cocoa Life Program director Cathy Pieters noted Cadbury Dairy Milk was the first mainstream chocolate bar to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark.

"Now we are delighted to bring a new dimension to our relationship with the Fairtrade family through this partnership between Cocoa Life and FLOCERT. Our aim is to know farmers are benefiting from a healthy supply chain with clear terms of trade, better access to markets, and new ways for their voices to be heard," Ms Pieters added.

FLOCERT CEO Rudiger Meyer said that Mondelez International is a long-standing strategic partner of Fairtrade.

"We are pleased at the opportunity to further support this cooperation by supplying them with our verification services to help the Cocoa Life program measure progress towards achieving its goals," Mr. Meyer further stated.

Cocoa processors Barry Callebaut and Cargill agree on the importance of Cocoa Life's verification framework.

"As a cocoa and industrial chocolate supplier to Mondelez International, we have a key role implementing Cocoa Life, alongside non-profit and other partners," said Nicko Debenham, VP Global Cocoa Sustainability, Barry Callebaut.  "Verifying Cocoa Life's terms of trade will build farmers' confidence in the program and encourage them to participate."

"Mondelez International is seeking to build closer relationships with cocoa communities by linking cocoa supply with its investment in Cocoa Life," said Taco Terheijden, Manager Sustainable Cocoa, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate.  "As defined in the Cargill approach we rate partnerships and transparency as critical components for a sustainable supply chain.  This verification will strengthen our relationship by ensuring benefits flow to farmers."