1. Choose a minimized production chain

Belgians love chocolate, but unfortunately, we do not have all the ingredients close at hand. Search for chocolate products that carry a Fairtrade Mark, a certified label which guarantees a minimization of the phases between the consumer and the cocoa farmer.

Attention: be cautious of unlabelled ‘local chocolate products’. Usually, this only concerns the last phase in the production chain. Since Belgium is a chocolate-producing country, this phase often takes place here.

©Photo: Easter action/sale ‘Fairly Easter’, Oxfam shops

The Bite To Fight chocolate of Oxfam Fairtrade offers cocoa farmers an additional Fairtrade Premium on top of their fair income.

©Foto: paasactie 'Fairlijk Pasen', Oxfam-Wereldwinkels

The Bite to Fight chocolate of Oxfam Fairtrade offers cocoa farmers an additional Fairtrade Premium on top of their fair income.

2. Choose sustainable ingredients

Palm oil, cocoa, sugar, milk… most ingredients in chocolate are not eco-friendly and fair, but they are, however, available in a sustainable way. Combine organic and fair-trade, since it is the best guarantee against deforestation, monoculture and other unsustainable agricultural practices.

3. Try vegetarian chocolate

Chocolate animals do not necessarily have to be processed with animal ingredients. The impact of large-scale farming on the environment is much smaller when processing vegan products. Fortunately, these ingredients are not used in each chocolate product. Because of the ever-growing vegetarian market, new products are being launched. You no longer have to fear eating only dark chocolate as a vegetarian alternative. Now, there are also “milk” chocolate products that are entirely vegan!

Here you can find an entire list with available vegan chocolate.

4. Buy plastic free chocolate

Finding plastic free packaging for Easter chocolates can be very challenging. However, we can only change this by continuing to buy and ask for products that are plastic free. You can, for example, buy the fair-trade chocolate chickens and eggs of KAKO Chocolaterie at Ohne. You can also find chocolate at BE O market. Always follow the hygiene rules at the packaging-free shops, wash and sanitize your hands well before buying packaging-free chocolate. Only this way, you can feast guilt-free upon your chocolate afterwards.

(Foto: Fauve Chocolade)