Easter celebrations across the world: The environmental impact of chocolate

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Watch the video on France24 or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Easter’s chocolate boom highlights cocoa’s hidden environmental cost
• Global cocoa production reaches 5 million tonnes to meet seasonal chocolate demand
• Europe alone consumes nearly half of the world’s cocoa supply

🔭 The context: Cocoa farming often leads to deforestation and contributes to climate change
• Farmers clear forests for fertile land, especially in West Africa
• Low cocoa prices push farmers to expand unsustainably into new forested areas
• While forest monitoring has improved, new risks arise in less-regulated regions

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Cocoa’s ecological footprint includes deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions
• Land clearing for cocoa threatens biodiversity and carbon sinks
• Long-term sustainability hinges on balancing livelihoods with environmental responsibility

⏭️ What's next: Sustainable cocoa depends on fair prices, traceability, and regulation
• Consumers should seek chocolate with origin info, eco-certifications, and fair trade labels
• Policy changes from governments, especially the EU, are key to systemic reform

💬 One quote: “Consumers can do a lot, but they cannot solve everything on their shoulders.” — Christophe Elliott

📈 One stat: 60% of the world’s cocoa is grown in just two countries, both in West Africa

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of General Mills and its peers Mondelez International, and Hershey

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