Brand Purpose Drives Tony's Chocolonely to Green Rating

Tony's Chocolonely has received an overall green score in the 2026 Chocolate Scorecard, placing it alongside HALBA as one of only two companies to achieve this rating. HALBA secured the top position in the annual assessment.

The Chocolate Scorecard evaluates global chocolate companies on sustainability issues in the cocoa industry each year. Areas assessed include living income, child labour, deforestation, gender equality, agroforestry and pesticide use.

Be Slavery Free coordinates the scorecard in collaboration with universities, consultants and NGOs. The assessment recognises industry leaders and encourages accountability across the sector.

The 2026 scorecard placed more weight on measurable impact and tangible progress.

Companies were rewarded for demonstrated results rather than stated goals. This shift reflects growing demand from consumers and stakeholders for evidence-based sustainability claims in the food and beverage sector.

Gender equality recognition

Tony's Chocolonely received the Gender Award for its progress towards gender equality in cocoa farming communities. The company highlighted structural barriers women face, including lower pay and fewer opportunities.

The chocolate brand operates a dedicated Gender Roadmap. This includes initiatives that improve access to income, training, resources and decision-making opportunities for women in cocoa farming.

An updated gender strategy is expected later this year. According to the company, gender equality could be essential to creating a more sustainable cocoa industry.

The brand's focus on gender equality addresses a critical gap in agricultural supply chains, where women often perform substantial labour but have limited control over household income or land ownership.

Tony's Chocolonely also ranked number one for living income. The brand has maintained a commitment to helping cocoa farmers earn and maintain at least a living income.

Open Chain model results

Through Tony's Open Chain model, the company has paid a Living Income Reference Price. This approach includes long-term partnerships, productivity investments and resilience-building programmes for farmers.

The company received top marks for its efforts to address child labour and deforestation. These are areas where Tony's has scored well in previous scorecards.

Douglas Lamont, CEO of Tony's Chocolonely, wrote on LinkedIn that he is "very proud of the results we have delivered in a turbulent year for cocoa."

"Our ambition to end exploitation in cocoa rests on us showing that you can deliver a positive impact for cocoa farming families, while also delivering strong commercial results," Douglas says.

Room for improvement remains

Tony's acknowledged areas where improvement is needed, including agroforestry and pesticide use. The scorecard introduced stricter, impact-focused criteria in these categories this year.

The company continues to strengthen its Integrated Pest Management practices. It is also expanding its Farm Transformation programme, which supports farmers through tailored coaching and increased tree diversity.

Implementation efforts are funded by the company. The programme provides farmers with practical support to adopt more sustainable practices.

Tony's congratulated HALBA on its first-place ranking. "BIGGEST congrats again to HALBA for taking 1st place this year! We're beyond excited to see another choco brand raising the bar. 'Cause it's only together that we'll be able to change the industry and end exploitation in cocoa," the company stated.

Mission Allies expand reach

Mission Allies are companies that join Tony's Open Chain to tackle problems in the cocoa industry. Partners commit to ethical sourcing through Tony's 5 Sourcing Principles.

Partners range from brands and manufacturers to major retailers. They play a role in increasing the volume of cocoa sourced responsibly and raising awareness of exploitation in supply chains.

According to the company's 2024/2025 annual report, almost half of the beans Tony's Open Chain sourced went to other Mission Allies. The other half went to Tony's own production.

This collaborative model demonstrates how brands can leverage shared infrastructure and expertise to scale responsible sourcing practices across the industry.

"Last year we proudly welcomed two new partners to the movement, bringing us to 22 in total," Douglas said in the report.

Foundation operates independently

The Chocolonely Foundation is an independent organisation that supports projects in cocoa-growing communities in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. It operates separately from Tony's Chocolonely with its own board and decision-making power.

While Tony's works to end exploitation by producing and selling chocolate made with responsibly sourced cocoa, the Foundation focuses on complementary support. This includes funding social programmes such as school fees and community stability initiatives.

These programmes help farmers manage income gaps during the cocoa season. The Foundation also invests in projects that strengthen inclusive cocoa communities and reduce poverty.

Tony's Chocolonely donates 1% of its net revenue annually to the Foundation. The funding supports education and provides assistance for victims of human trafficking and exploitation in cocoa-growing regions.