Cocoa Industry Emissions Have Dropped
Global cocoa production rose alongside a shift toward deforestation-free sourcing practices for industry companies.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Organic Food
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Global emissions linked to cocoa sourcing decreased by 24.5 percent in 2025. This shift occurred as global production grew by an estimated 8 percent during the same period.
Why it matters
The change reflects an industry-wide transition toward more sustainable sourcing as companies prepare for upcoming European Union regulatory requirements.
Global Witness analyzed emissions intensity based on company reports, finding a 24.5 percent drop in sourcing emissions and a 17 percentage point increase in self-reported deforestation-free supply chains. These figures are preliminary, as companies currently utilize diverse internal methodologies to calculate their carbon impact.
The players
Global Witness
An international non-governmental organization that investigates and reports on environmental and human rights abuses.
Ferrero
A multinational manufacturer of branded chocolate and confectionery products that publicly discloses its supply chain emissions.
The details
Companies are adjusting their supply chains to align with the European Union Deforestation Regulation agreed upon in 2023. By reporting the emissions intensity of their sourcing, firms like Ferrero are providing more transparency into their environmental impact. This data helps identify how global production can scale while simultaneously reducing the footprint associated with traditional harvesting practices.
Timeline
The European Union Deforestation Regulation was agreed upon in 2023.
Global cocoa production rose by an estimated 8 percent in 2025.
Legal obligations for large companies enter into force at the end of 2026.
Health Landscape
The global food industry is currently shifting toward greater supply chain transparency driven by the European Union Deforestation Regulation. This development follows a historical pattern of increasing corporate accountability for environmental impact, setting a new standard for how major commodity producers report their sustainability metrics.
While these industry-level shifts do not change your immediate dietary habits, they reflect a broader trend toward transparency in the global food supply. Consumers looking for sustainable options should continue to look for third-party certifications on labels as a reliable way to verify company claims.
The takeaway
The cocoa industry is actively reducing its environmental footprint as it moves toward mandatory sustainability reporting. Readers can continue to support these changes by choosing brands that demonstrate clear, transparent, and verified deforestation-free sourcing practices.
What happens next
Legal obligations for large companies under the European Union Deforestation Regulation are scheduled to come into force at the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more on the implications of sustainable sourcing in modern food production, visit our Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Business & Human Rights.
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