Schogetten – Raw Materials
Responsible, sustainable sourcing is especially important when it comes to raw materials obtained from distant countries. Cocoa is one of the essential raw materials for Schogetten—after all, it’s the basis for chocolate. Palm oil is another important topic. When we use palm oil, we only use 100% RSPO-certified palm oil (certification level: “Segregated”1).
Cocoa Farming
For many cocoa farmers, their low income makes it a challenge to adopt new methods of cultivation. Low yields and low prices for cocoa often result in farmers working their land inefficiently. That’s why we see it as extremely important to strengthen our commitment to the cocoa farming industry.
1) RSPO-certified palm oil refers to palm oil from various certified sources that is kept separate from standard palm oil throughout the supply chain.
Learn more.
Our Approach to Sourcing Cocoa
1. Since July 1, 2026, we have been exclusively using Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa (mass balance2) in Schogetten.
2. We are a founding member of the Forum Nachhaltiger Kakao e. V. (German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa).
3. We are a member of the Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI), through which we support the Stiftung der Deutschen Kakao- und Schokoladenwirtschaft (German Cocoa and Chocolate Industry Foundation).
2) The mass balance method allows certified and noncertified raw materials to be mixed throughout the supply chain. It ensures that the amount of certified raw material used corresponds to the amount purchased.
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1. Certifications
In the international food industry, globally recognized certifications are a widely used tool for implementing standards—including with respect to sustainability. The Rainforest Alliance program is the source of one well-known certification in this area. We have been exclusively using Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa (mass balance) in Schogetten since July 1, 2026.
The Rainforest Alliance organization defines the requirements and contents of its own certification. The criteria cover labor conditions, usage of natural resources, and agricultural practices, among other areas.
More information is available at www.rainforest-alliance.org.
2. What the Forum Nachhaltiger Kakao e. V. does
As a founding member of the Forum Nachhaltiger Kakao e. V. (German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa), we are committed to tackling the challenges in the cocoa industry. The Forum’s goal is to improve the living standards of cocoa farmers and their families, to protect the natural resources and biodiversity in the countries where cocoa is farmed, and to expand certified-sustainable cocoa cultivation and marketing.
More information is available at www.kakaoforum.de.
3. Involvement in other German Institutions
We are a member of the Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI), through which we support the Stiftung der Deutschen Kakao- und Schokoladenwirtschaft (German Cocoa and Chocolate Industry Foundation). Both of these institutions are focused on the advancement of cocoa farming, which specifically includes research and development programs concentrating on West Africa. One program aids farmers by helping them obtain the necessary documentation of their land usage rights. This program is implemented in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)—a company that is wholly owned by the German federal government and is involved in international development partnerships.
More information is available at www.bdsi.de/verband/nachhaltigkeit/nachhaltigkeit-im-kakaosektor.
4-0146-11-100-00
Our Approach to Palm Oil
We exclusively use RSPO-certified palm oil categorized as “segregated.” RSPO stands for “Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.” It is a global certification system with criteria encompassing the cultivation, processing, and traceability of palm oil along the supply chain. Palm oil categorized as “segregated” is kept separate from noncertified palm oil throughout the supply chain.
More information is available at rspo.org.
