Every year the Chocolate Scorecard, produced by our partners at Be Slavery Free, shines a light on the sourcing policies and practices of the world’s biggest chocolate producers and key retailers. Household names like Cadbury, Mars, Lindt, and Ferrero are ranked alongside major supermarkets, revealing who is making progress—and who is falling behind—on human rights and environmental sustainability.
This year, the findings are stark. While large chocolate producers have improved their scores, retailers have slipped, revealing a concerning gap in accountability. So what do these results mean for human rights, from child labour to fair wages for cocoa farmers?
Human rights: the bitter truth behind our chocolate
Child labour: a promise still unfulfilled
The chocolate industry has known about the presence of child labour for decades, yet systemic change remains elusive. The 2025 chocolate scorecard reveals that while the number of children in hazardous labour conditions has slightly decreased, experts warn that reported cases still only scratch the surface. It has been 25 years since industry leaders promised to abolish child labour, yet millions of children remain trapped in dangerous and exploitative conditions.
Encouragingly, transparency is on the rise:
- 82% of companies shared full child labour data, up from 54% last year. But data alone is not enough.
- Despite increased transparency, overall child labour scores (ranked on policy and practice) dropped for both companies (-5%) and
- retailers (-21%) this year.
Without concrete action, the cocoa industry will continue to rely on a workforce of vulnerable children who should be in school, not in the fields.
“The cocoa industry has promised to eradicate child labour from supply chains for years, yet over a million children are still exploited.* While transparency is improving and companies are becoming more aware of their responsibilities, progress remains too slow. The programmes designed to tackle these issues must be expanded and backed by enforceable regulations. Meanwhile, consumer demand for ethical chocolate continues to make an impact. By choosing brands that prioritise fair wages and transparency, we can push the industry to do better. The Chocolate Scorecard empowers all of us to take action—because no one should suffer for the chocolate we enjoy.”
Living income vs. corporate profits
The revenue of the chocolate confectionery market is projected to hit $140 billion in 2025. Consumers are paying more for smaller chocolate bars, but at the other end of the supply chain, farmers remain trapped in extreme poverty. So, does the extra money consumers are paying reach cocoa farmers? Probably not (yet). While nearly all major companies now have policies supporting a living income for farmers, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
A shocking 37% of large companies don’t know how many farmers are earning a living income in their supply chain.
Without fair pay, cocoa farmers remain vulnerable to exploitation, including forced and child labour. If chocolate companies can trace their supply chains and ensure deforestation-free cocoa, why can’t they also ensure that farmers receive a wage they can live on?
Retailers: time to step up
The 2025 chocolate scorecard makes one thing clear—retailers are failing, with overall scores down by 4% from last year. While major chocolate brands have improved their commitments, retailers are lagging behind. Retailers hold significant influence in the cocoa industry, yet many are failing to take responsibility for their supply chains. Their private-label products sit alongside well-known brands, competing on price, packaging, and procurement—but without the same level of accountability.
- Only five of 33 invited retailers scored green (leading in policy and practice) or yellow (progressing in policy or practice).
- 10 scored orange (needs improvement) or red (trailing) and
- 18 did not participate.
But if chocolate companies can be transparent about their supply chains, so can retailers. It’s time for them to step up and demand ethical sourcing.
Driving change: what businesses must do now
Businesses must act now to create real change in the cocoa industry. It’s no longer enough to make promises; they must deliver concrete, measurable results:
- Commit to full supply chain transparency: No more missing data on wages, child labour, or sourcing. Consumers and stakeholders must have access to clear, comprehensive information.
- Ensure farmers earn a living income, not just on paper but in reality. It’s time for companies to guarantee that cocoa farmers are paid fairly for their hard work—because no one should live in poverty, especially those who are at the heart of the industry.
- Support stronger, enforceable regulations: Voluntary measures have failed to eradicate child labour over the past 25 years. We need robust, enforceable laws and global standards to ensure human rights are upheld throughout the supply chain.
Consumers: the power of ethical choices
The Chocolate Scorecard isn’t just a tool for businesses—it’s a resource for consumers who want to make informed, ethical choices. By identifying the most and least ethical chocolate brands, the Scorecard empowers individuals to support companies that prioritise human rights and sustainability.
As a consumer, you can:
- Use the 2025 Chocolate Scorecard to check which brands align with ethical practices.
- Choose brands with high rankings that demonstrate transparency, fair wages, and responsible sourcing.
- Demand better from retailers by supporting those that commit to ethical chocolate.
- Spread awareness—share the Scorecard with friends and family to drive collective action.
Every purchase is a vote for the kind of world we want. By choosing ethical chocolate, consumers can send a clear message to businesses: exploitation has no place in our treats.
*Source: 2020 NORC Final Report: Assessing Progress in Reducing Child Labour in Cocoa Production in Cocoa Growing Areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana
