M&M’s and Lindor chocolate are filled with cocoa harvested by small
children.

A new EU law puts them on the spot, but it will take years to implement.
Both candy giants don’t want their high quality chocolate being linked to
child labour, so let’s demand they clean up their supply chains NOW.

[ [link removed] ] Sign the petition 

   
John,

Candy makers Mars and Lindt make millions off of their m&m’s and Lindor
chocolate… made with cocoa harvested by five-year olds! A new EU law puts
these candy giants on the spot – but they’re already looking for excuses
and loopholes. That’s our cue!

Both the US and Swiss chocolate giants say fighting child labour is their
top priority, but recent reports connect cocoa from multiple plantations
using child labour to their supply chains. 

The EU’s new due diligence law requires corporations to eliminate child
and slave labour in supply chains for things like cocoa — it's a huge
chance for change, but only if we pressure Lindt and Mars to act and not
evade.

Let’s use the momentum of the law officially passing – add your voice now:

[ [link removed] ]Mars and Lindt: Clean up your cocoa supply chain – no more child labour
in chocolate

CBS and the Swiss public broadcaster report how countless children, some
barely school-aged, have to do heavy physical labour on Ghana's cocoa
plantations instead of playing or going to school — just so their families
can put food on their tables.

There are multiple factors at play, from far too low prices paid for cocoa
to the increasing demand for chocolate, but major players like Mars and
Lindt do have it in their hands to clean up their supply chain and kick
off systemic change.

And now with the new EU due diligence directive (CSDDD), it’s 100% up to
these companies to make sure their supply chains adhere to the latest
environmental and human rights standards. Importing cocoa linked to child
labour would get them into trouble BIG TIME.

Mars and Lindt might think they still have time to comply until the new
directive is officially implemented on national law level, but that’s just
a foul delay tactic. We as a global community are here to remind them that
consumers care and they better start NOW.

[ [link removed] ]Add your name to call on Mars and Lindt: No more child labour in our
chocolate

We’ve done this before: We helped Kellogg’s and PepsiCo eliminate
deforestation and slave labour in their palm oil supply chains — and have
nagged Nestlé for years to cut out child labour from their cocoa supplies.
As consumers of these commodities we have a say in how companies source
them — let’s do it with Mars and Lindt again.



[ [link removed] ] Sign the petition 



Thanks for all that you do,
Rosa, Olivia, and the team at Ekō


More information:

[ [link removed] ]Candy company Mars uses cocoa harvested by kids as young as 5 in Ghana:
CBS News investigation
CBS News, 29 November 2023

[ [link removed] ]Lindt & Sprüngli hit with child labor allegations in cocoa supply chain
Confectionery News, 17 January 2024

[ [link removed] ]After Delays, EU Approves Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Law
Forbes, 15 March 2024

 

 

Ekō is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy.

Please help keep Ekō strong by chipping in $3. [link removed]