In order to manufacture high-quality ingredients for our bakery, patisserie, and chocolate industry, Puratos sources many different raw materials from around the world. The global demand for raw materials such as palm oil, cocoa, flour, and sugar can put pressure on our natural ecosystems and can affect the sustainable development of local communities. Here at Puratos, we believe that responsible sourcing is key to ethical trading. And consumers are right to be concerned about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the way in which it is sourced.
That’s why we are 100% committed to responsible sourcing and make sure we collaborate and maintain open dialog with the people involved in our supply chain. We ask our suppliers to sign our Code of Conduct or to share theirs with us. It is vital for us to have the same level of ethical requirements maintained throughout our supply and production chains.
Palm oil is an essential ingredient in Puratos products. It makes our food taste and smell great, enabling us to offer you the high-quality products you expect and deserve. Nevertheless, we are aware that not all palm oil production is sustainable.
Puratos has been a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) since 2010. This means that we follow strict criteria and are committed to using 100% sustainable palm oil that’s kinder to the environment and has a positive social and ethical impact. Furthermore, we collaborate with our suppliers, customers and other stakeholders to drive sustainable palm oil production forward.
We are committed to a sustainable palm oil supply chain that:
- Is free of deforestation and the use of fire;
- Safeguards biodiversity and wildlife;
- Conserves peatlands: Peat is hugely important for our planet, since it acts as a carbon store, is a great habitat for wildlife, and plays a role in water management;
- Protects the forest by enhancing high conservation value (HCV) areas and high carbon stock (HCS) forests. These forest areas are in—or contain—rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems, and are critical to local communities;
- Behaves ethically and respects the rights of workers and local communities, in line with international human rights principles and applicable local laws;
- Improves working conditions and the livelihoods of workers through responsible production, education, and health services;
- Promotes the inclusion of smallholders in our sustainable palm supply chains;
- Lives up to high standards of transparency through reporting the traceability of palm oil trees.
The traditional way of working in the chocolate industry doesn’t make for a sustainable future. Moreover, the prices farmers are paid for cocoa are far too low. This has forced many of them to stop cultivating cocoa and convert their plantations, or simply quit agriculture altogether. In recent years, the chocolate industry has done a slightly better job of helping farmers produce more cocoa, but this has resulted in even lower prices.
Cacao-Trace: A life-changing approach to sustainable cocoa sourcing
The Cacao-Trace program guarantees that farmers are paid the best possible price for their cocoa beans. They receive a premium price and our unique Chocolate Bonus of 0.10 euro per kg sold. By securing a quality premium and the Chocolate bonus we share value along the chain, especially with cocoa farmers. With value sharing we invest in cocoa farmers and their communities and providing for them a life-changing impact.
Our Cacao-Trace certification guarantees:
- Better lives for farmers thanks to better revenue, better health, better education;
- Better planet thanks to agroforestry inclusion in the program;
- Better business;
- Better consumer mindset.
By choosing Cacao-Trace, our customers and consumers can have a direct, positive impact on the lives of cocoa farmers, while benefiting from taste improvement. As with our exceptional fermentation expertise and un unparalleled international network of post-harvest centers we create superior tasting chocolate. The Cacao-Trace chocolate’s superior taste is confirmed by prestigious awards like International Award Cocoa of Excellence, Paris 2013 or the Highest Auction, Cocoa of Excellence at Chocoa 2019. A win-win all around!
Taste Tomorrow research confirms that never before consumers have been so conscious about the stories behind their food. In Q1 2021 we conducted a survey with our customers, confirming the value creation behind close to you & more transparent supply chain concepts.
With Puratos’ Field to fork program we are close to the farmer (direct or via 1st transformation), creating value for the fruit grower (valorization of 2nd-grade quality, diversification of revenues) and local communities while reducing the impact on the environment (water and soil management).
We are sourcing locally specific origins & varieties to bring a differentiated taste, while offering transparency to customers and consumers.
