
One of the many ways we can respond to the emerging urgency of safe custodianship of our environment is to use the money we have as first-world-ers in the wisest possible way. You may think this means purchasing organic produce or products. And though that is certainly one way to ensure better care is taken in the production of food and goods, it is not the only option.
When you go shopping, do you think about what your money is supporting when you buy your food? Do you consider the origins of your Cadbury Dairy Milk?
Cadbury is doing just that and more, and in fact, has been for some time.
Think of it like this, there is a silken cord of relationship between you – in your nice supermarket in your nice town or city, with its clean streets and clean water – and the people who make the things that we purchase – often in their very different lives, with not such easy access to schools and not such clean water.
These days, large corporations like Cadbury are finding ways of making their own supply chains more sustainable by supporting the communities at the heart of them.
Until recently I had no idea that Cadbury has a history of philanthropy and is working hard to ensure that its cocoa-growing communities are no longer havens to child slavery and unsustainable farming practice.
Instead, Cadbury is working with communities, supporting children’s education and helping cocoa growers earn enough to support themselves and run their farm as a viable business.
An ambitious program, Cocoa Life is creating great change by responsibly sourcing the ingredients of our chocolate bars. This idea appeals deeply to me, that each of our little purchasing decisions at the store or the corner shop can build a sustainable and real change in the world if larger corporations get on board with it.
Huge things are being considered here – climate change, ending child slavery, gender inequality to name a few.
This is no simple thing. Cadbury is partnering with some big names in the non-profit world including Fairtrade, Antislavery, World Vision, Save the Children and UNDP.
How great is it that you could send your kid to grab a Cadbury Daily Milk™ as a treat and also be helping to support this program which directly affects the child of a cocoa farmer in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, India, Dominican Rep, or Brazil?
Impressively, by 2019, 80% of the cocoa used in Cadbury’s products will be sustainably sourced. I’m astounded by this – and happily, have a new reason to buy chocolate too. YES!
You can follow more about this program on social media via @cadburyUK and #cocoallife
Alena // Soul Mamma is a writer, educator, ethical digital creator and mum of three little darlings based in Freshwater Beach, in Sydney. You can join her and bumble through this parenting malarkey together with other lovely souls in the Soul Mamma Crew.