Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate wins Conscience Award
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 02. 3.08
Valentine's day looms. Chocolate is on your mind. So we are pleased that the prestigious "International Brands with a Conscience Award 2008" reminds us to remind you of the incredible story behind Tony's Chocolonely chocolates. You may remember that Tony's slavefree chocolate attracted attention due to founder Teun van de Keuken's remarkable attempts to publicize the bitter truth about chocolate. Van de Keuken tried to force Dutch authorities to prosecute him for buying and eating chocolate in violation of Dutch law that makes it illegal to receive goods that have been obtained unlawfully.
Van de Keuken failed to get a jail sentence and rouse active protest, but in true TreeHugger style, he has developed Tony's Chocolonely and now sells humane candy bars in several Dutch supermarket chains, giving consumers the choice to buy right. And consumers need not suffer for their choice: Chocolonely chocolate letters, a Dutch holiday treat, won a double blind taste test on the Dutch television program Llinke Soep. International customers can order the bars in boxes of 30 each, milk or dark chocolate, at the Chocolonely website.
Van de Keuken's response to the award is quoted at people planet profit:
As a small Dutch chocolate producer, we are absolutely dumbstruck when we look at the huge international organizations that have won this award. The international recognition is fantastic and we really need it. I hope that this award helps to really focus the spotlight on the abuses in the cocoa industry, both in Holland and abroad.
The Medinge Group, which is behind the International Brands with a Conscience Award, seeks to recognize companies that demonstrate that it "is possible for brands to succeed as they contribute to the betterment of the society by sustainable, socially responsible and humanistic behaviour." In addition to Tony's Chocolonely, companies receiving the 2008 award are:
- Aveda
- Hennes & Mauritz
- Happy Computers
- International Watch Co.
- Pret a Manger
- Dame Anita Roddick
For more great ideas for your special day, don't forget to check out the TreeHugger Valentine gift guide.
(See author's note below regarding this comment)
I checked the website and it doesn't seem like they ship to America. Almost everywhere else (in Europe at least) but not here. Unfortunate for us and them.
===auth. note===
I suspect Chocolonelys could be ordered from the Americas as well: zone 5 is "all other countries". Shipping may be prohibitive, however, and transport over long distances is not usually the best choice for the environment. I suggest you also look in your community for chocolate with the "fair trade" logo, and eat Tony's when you have the need to be in the Netherlands on business or pleasure. If you don't find someone with fair trade chocolate in your neighborhood, maybe you can spread the idea. And make the tough choices on ordering from Tony's at any cost to make a statement for what is right in the world. P.S. commenters: before you say not eating chocolate is also a choice (heh??!), remember that there are farmers who do make a living from these beans.
Luckily there are a lot of more socially/environmentally responsible confectionery choices out there now (try finding them 5 years ago).
Here's a few:
Theo Chocolates (organic & fair trade)
Divine Chocolate (fair trade)
Sjaak's (fair trade, organic & vegan)
Hotel Chocolat (ethically traded)
CocoaVino (fair trade & organic + sustainable energy)
Equal Exchange (fair trade)
Green & Black's (some fair trade & organic)
Dagoba (fair trade & organic)
Terra Nostra (organic & some fair trade)
Trader Joe's (some fair trade & organic selections)
Zotter (fair trade & organic)
Endangered Species (some fair trade & some organic)
Non Chocolate
Pure Fun (organic & fair trade)
VerMints
Surf Sweets (organic)
College Farm (organic)
Yummy Earth (organic)
Also, many of the premium chocolate but non-organic companies such as Michel Cluizel, El Rey and Guittard have strong relationships with the plantations and coops that they buy from. Because they're paying premium for their beans it encourages sustainable techniques. The same goes for many bars that are single origin. Fair trade or EquiTrade certification is expensive, especially for small farms.
Even the "big boys" are getting into it. Russell Stover has a line of organic chocolates.
nice picture :) ... made it while I was a student on the PhotoAcademy ;) ... never knew it would be used all over the world ;) hahaha
BTW Tony's Choclat is fantastic! A great initiative by Teun v/d Keuken and it sells great here in The Netherlands! I love it! :)