Do you also enjoy delicious Belgian chocolate that is “fair” as well? Chocolate manufacturer Guylian - yes the one known for its seafood pralines - sets a high standard for sustainability, operating not only circular and CO2-neutral, but also focusing on renewable energy and fair trading ingredients.
Since 1958 the Belgian chocolate producer Guylian has been renowned both domestically and internationally for its high-quality chocolate creations, with its seafood pralines being the showpiece. The brand did not only get a facelift in 2022 but also made a resolute commitment to sustainability moving forward.
Fair trade cacao
Unfortunately, the primary ingredient for chocolate, cacao, cannot be produced locally. Guylian sources cacao from West-Africa but opts 100% for cacao with the Fairtrade label. That means cacao farmers get a minimum price and a premium for their product. Furthermore, Guylian chooses to use only natural ingredients, with no palm oil or soy listed in the ingredients. This way Guylian avoids contributing to deforestation and the loss of biodiversity. From the very beginning, the producer also avoids using preservatives or artificial colours in the chocolates.
Recyclable packaging
At Guylian, they go even further to extend their sustainability efforts across all fronts. By optimizing the production process Guylian currently achieves only 0,1% food waste, but they aim to reach 0% soon. Since 2022 all chocolate packaging is 100% recyclable, resulting in 30 ton plastic less a year.
CO2-neutral chocolate
Also for the climate Guylian is doing their utmost to make a difference. Not only do they use 67% less water compared to 5 years ago, but since 2022, all electricity is renewable and the remaining CO2-emission are offset through green certificates, linked to a forest conservation project in Brazil. That is why Guylian was rewarded the CO2-neutral label from Co2logic.