How Hotel Chocolat is helping forge a sustainable world
When it comes to running a business, the first thing on the CFO’s mind is “how can we save the most amount of money?” This could be through using through advertisement budgeting or smart investments. Or, what we’re looking at today, the source of ingredients.
More often than not, it’s cheaper for a food business to source ingredients from their own farms. After all, if they’re running the show themselves, they’re not dishing out extra money to other companies or farmers. However, is that really what’s best for the planet?
Hungry for chocolate? I’d go get a bar. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at the chocolate brand Hotel Chocolat and how they’re making a positive impact on the chocolate industry.
What is Hotel Chocolat?
Hotel Chocolat might not be as well-known as competitors such as Cadbury’s, Mars or Nestle, but they sure are one of the best chocolate makers out there.
Founded in 2004, British brand Hotel Chocolat specialises in all things chocolate. Offering plain and interesting chocolates and bars and even alcoholic beverages such as cacao gin or salted caramel vodka, there’s really something for everyone. Other than their stores, the company even have a selection of cafes to visit, as well as a hotel in Saint Lucia and a restaurant in London.
However, that’s not even the best part.
Hotel Chocolat is known for its bold commitments and positive impact on the chocolate world. From the earth to its people, they’re constantly working on making chocolate more sustainable and healthier for society. Here’s how:
How do they make chocolate sustainable?
The world
As you might have guessed, the chocolate industry has quite a substantial effect on the planet. Most of the time, chocolate packaging comes in the form of wrappers and plastics that are tricky to recycle if recyclable at all. In 2017, Hotel Chocolate pledged to make 100% of their packaging compostable, reusable or recyclable by 2021.
‘We are currently over 90% of the way towards the goal, constantly re-evaluating our priorities and upgrading our practices as new science, materials and technology come to light.’
The company has made huge amounts of progress towards having a great green impact on the planet, but there’s still a ways to go. As such, they’ve extended their promise into 2022 – ‘if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.’
Hotel Chocolat is also planning to beat the UK Government’s Net Zero Carbon commitment, working towards this tall order by 2030.
The people
Beyond working towards a healthier planet, Hotel Chocolat is also working towards a more sustainable society.
While they do own a 140-acre estate in Saint Lucia to grow their own cocoa, they will never be fully self-sufficient.
‘If we were to grow all our own cocoa, we could run the risk of creating a monopolist, neo-colonial-style cocoa power. Rather, we wholeheartedly celebrate and support cocoa farmers and cocoa farming communities around the world and strive to spread the sustainable blueprint we have created in Saint Lucia further around the world over the coming years.’
The company understands the importance of supporting cocoa farmers from around the world, and their experience owning an estate has done nothing but enlighten them further. By supporting other farmers, Hotel Chocolat is building a sustainable world, funding the jobs and livelihood of communities and different people everywhere.
As you can see, Hotel Chocolate is actively avoiding becoming an imposing business in the cocoa world. Not only this, but the company is actively working to set a better example for companies around the world, with plans to be 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable not being small promises!
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