New month, new EU milestone! Yep, we're back with another update on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the Forced Labor Regulation (FLR). In March, the European Council officially approved both laws. And earlier this week the European Parliament did the same. A choc-tastic week for human rights and the environment.
Even though both laws have been significantly weakened, we are (very) happy that both have been passed and that large companies, including Big Choco(!), are finally being held responsible for all human rights and environmental violations. These laws are there to stop human rights violations in global production chains. The CSDDD also forces European companies to demonstrate that they are working to protect the environment.
Tony's has been committed to legislation from day 1! We did this, among other things, through our petition, with which we collected 66,000 signatures from chocolate fans, which we presented to EU Commissioner Reynders in 2021. Earlier this year we went to Brussels in our Tony's suit to show our support to several Euro Parliamentarians. And let's make ourselves heard as an active member of the Cocoa Coalition. Psst.. The Cocoa Coalition is a group of companies, certification organizations and multi-stakeholder organizations that work together to support relevant policy proposals within the EU.
The Harkin-Engel Protocol has shown that voluntary programs by companies do not lead to structural change. Legislation is needed for this. And there it is: the EU has finally taken an important step to protect human rights and the environment. And... that makes it no longer possible to look away.
Although this is a victory, much remains to be done to stop exploitation in cocoa together. So... we will continue with Tony's Open Chain, with which we show all other chocolate makers how you can purchase cocoa in an honest, sustainable way.
Thank you for helping with all these steps, by signing the petition, sharing our story and enjoying our chocolate. And... A big chocolate thank you to our Serious Friend Lara Wolters, who initiated the CSDDD.
Together we put an end to exploitation in cocoa. So let's keep raising the bar.