The evidence behind our impact

Beyond the Claims

At Original Beans, every chocolate connects flavour, forests and farmers.
Our impact framework is built on four pillars that shape how we source, craft and regenerate. These are not just brand claims, but measurable commitments supported by continuously monitored data across sourcing, ingredients and packaging.

Our approach is independently recognised through the Chocolate Scorecard, one of the chocolate industry’s leading accountability benchmarks, validating our long-term commitment to transparency, regenerative sourcing and farmer partnerships.

  • CLIMATE+

  • FAIR+

  • Pure

  • Tree 

    programme

  • COMPOSTABLE 
    PACKAGING

Climate +
Carbon-storing 
agroforestry systems
What Climate+ Means

Our cacao grows in living cacao forests, not monocultures.


We source cacao from biodiverse agroforestry systems where cacao trees grow alongside native timber and fruit trees. These landscapes support biodiversity, improve soil health and store carbon while producing exceptional cacao.


No forests are cleared to grow our cacao. We source from both ancestral cacao forests and agroforestry landscapes established by restoring former agricultural and pasture land.

The Principles Behind Climate+

  • Cacao grown in dense, biodiverse agroforestry systems (no monoculture)
  • No deforestation. Former pasture and agricultural land restored into biodiverse cacao agroforestry systems, alongside sourcing from ancestral cacao forests over 100 years old
  • Native and timber trees grown alongside cacao to maximise long-term carbon storage
  • Organic farming without chemical fertilisers (avoiding high-emission nitrogen inputs)
  • Low-impact cultivation: minimal machinery and fossil fuel use
  • Sourcing rare, native cacao varieties adapted to shaded, long-living ecosystems
Results in 2025 
(based on our Chocolate Foodprint 2025)
  • 2.013 million trees grown
  • 20,157 Tons of CO2 drawn down
  • 4,488 hectares of agroforestry growing our beans
Monitoring
Our Climate+ claim is continuously measured and verified. We track our impact through:
  • Farm-level data collection (tree species, density, land use)
  • Independent carbon accounting in partnership with CarbonRoots, including Greenhouse Gas Balance assessments across the full supply chain, from sourcing regions to finished chocolate production in Europe, as well as regional studies in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia & Congo
  • Organic certification and traceability systems down to farm level
We are progressively expanding these assessments to cover all sourcing projects.

Climate+ is Original Beans' own impact pillar. It describes how we measure and continuously improve the climate performance of our sourcing landscapes. It is not an independent certification, carbon offset, climate-neutral or climate-positive claim.

Fair +
Premium sourcing partnerships 
designed to support living incomes
What Fair+ Means
We build long-term sourcing partnerships with cacao-producing communities and organisations, paying premium prices that reflect the quality, rarity and origin of the cacao.
Beyond purchasing cacao, we invest in producing regions by supporting farmer training, agroforestry, local value creation and, where possible, processing at origin.

The Principles Behind Fair+

  • Long-term sourcing partnerships with producer organisations and communities
  • Premium prices significantly above commodity market levels
  • Farmer training and technical support for regenerative agroforestry
  • Investment in local value creation and processing at origin where feasible
  • Long-term, traceable sourcing relationships across our supply chain
  • Continuous collaboration to strengthen environmental and social practices
Results in 2025 
(based on our Chocolate Foodprint 2025)
  • 4,001 farmers trained, including 1,011 women
  • 105.2 tonnes of cacao processed in producing countries
  • Premium prices paid above commodity market levels, designed to support living incomes across our sourcing regions*
Monitoring
Fair+ is supported through long-term partnerships, ongoing collaboration and regular monitoring across our sourcing network. We monitor our progress through:
  • Long-term sourcing agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with producer organisations where applicable
  • Regular engagement with sourcing partners on quality, traceability and continuous improvement
  • Farm-level traceability across our sourcing network
  • Documentation and monitoring provided by sourcing partners covering topics such as deforestation, child labour and broader social and environmental standards
  • Periodic assessment of pricing, investments and programme outcomes to continuously strengthen our sourcing approach
Fair+ is Original Beans' own impact pillar. It describes how we build long-term sourcing relationships and invest in producer communities. It is not an independent certification or guarantee of specific social or income outcomes.
Pure
No more than 4 ingredients
What Pure Means
Chocolate reduced to its essence: exceptional cacao and a few carefully selected ingredients.

Our cacao is sourced from regenerative agroforestry systems. Where products are certified organic, this is clearly indicated on pack. Across all sourcing regions, we prioritise transparent sourcing standards and carefully selected ingredients.

The Principles Behind Pure

  • Minimal ingredient lists (maximum four ingredients)
  • No additives, lecithin or added flavourings
  • Rare single-varietal cacao origins with full traceability
  • Cacao sourced from regenerative agroforestry systems
  • Carefully selected ingredients with full transparency
  • Preservation of rare native cacao varieties through long-term sourcing
Results in 2025 
(based on our Chocolate Foodprint 2025)
  • 46,320 cacao beans individually checked by hand
  • 10 rare cacao varietals preserved across our sourcing landscapes
  • Recipes made with no more than four ingredients
Quality & Recognition
Our chocolate is recognised by chefs, chocolatiers and makers for its flavour precision, origin character and ingredient integrity.

Through long-term sourcing partnerships, we help preserve rare cacao genetics while continuously refining quality from origin to finished chocolate.

Monitoring 
& Quality Assurance
Pure is supported through continuous quality management and transparent sourcing practices.

We monitor quality through:
  • Continuous quality controls across the supply chain
  • Flavour profiling, cut tests and bean analysis for defects, mould and insect damage
  • Monitoring of cacao production against our sourcing standards, including farming practices and agrochemical requirements
  • Full traceability of cacao from origin through production
  • Close collaboration with our manufacturing partners to continuously improve flavour, recipes and product quality
Pure is Original Beans' own impact pillar. It reflects our approach to ingredient transparency, minimal recipes and exceptional cacao quality. It is not an independent certification.
One 4 One Tree Programme
+ 5.2 million Trees grown
What it Means
For every Original Beans chocolate bar or couverture sold, we fund the growing or protection of one tree in cacao-origin landscapes through our long-standing One4One Tree Programme.

Working together with local communities and partners, we invest in agroforestry, forest restoration and forest conservation projects that strengthen biodiversity, support resilient cacao landscapes and contribute to long-term community development.

Every tree funded through the programme is linked to its origin landscape, providing transparency on where trees are grown or protected.

Why it Matters

Healthy forests are essential for thriving cacao. By supporting the growing and protection of trees in cacao-producing landscapes, we help strengthen biodiversity, improve ecosystem resilience and support farming communities for the long term.

Planting new trees is only part of restoring healthy forests. Protecting existing trees and supporting natural regeneration can deliver equal or greater benefits for biodiversity, carbon storage and resilient cacao landscapes. That is why our One4One Tree Programme supports both tree growing and tree protection.

The Principles Behind One 4 One Tree Program
  • One tree funded for every Original Beans bar or 10 for every Rainforest Couverture sold
  • Investment in tree growing and forest protection within cacao-origin landscapes
  • Long-term partnerships with local communities, cooperatives, NGOs and conservation organisations
  • Diverse planting strategies using cacao, native and timber tree species where appropriate
  • Focus on long-term landscape restoration rather than short-term planting targets
  • Local ownership of nurseries and tree management, without direct payments for individual tree planting
Results Since 2010
  • + 5.2 million Trees grown in the world’s tropical hotspot forests since 2010
  • Tree nurseries run with local partners (NGOs, cooperatives, municipalities)
  • Mix of cacao, native and timber tree species
  • Long-term partnerships with local communities
  • Focus on regeneration, not short-term planting targets
  • No direct payment for planting, ensuring long-term ownership and care 

 One4One Trees programme (2025)

CountryRegionPartnerPlantedProtectedTotal
EcuadorEsmeraldasChachi Community181,000417,000598,000
CongoVirungaIDAD329,0000329,000
TanzaniaUdzungwaKokoaKamili89,200089,200
PeruPiuraNorandino74,950840,000914,950
PeruCuscoAlto Urubamba22,050022,050
PeruAwajunJempe Bakau20,000020,000
PeruAmazonasCEPROAA41,000041,000
MexicoZoqueAgrofloresta40,000040,000
TOTAL797,2001,257,0002,054,200
```

Nurseries per Origin

CountryRegionNurseriesTree Species
EcuadorEsmeraldas1135
Democratic Republic of CongoVirunga106
TanzaniaUdzungwa11 (cacao)
PeruPiura188
PeruCusco14
PeruAwajún11 (cacao)
PeruAmazonas14
MexicoZoque48
```
Monitoring & Transparency
The One4One Tree Programme is supported through ongoing monitoring and collaboration with our local partners. We monitor the programme through:
  • Direct reporting from nursery and conservation partners on tree growing, protection and distribution
  • Long-term collaboration with local cooperatives, NGOs and conservation organisations
  • Monitoring of landscape restoration and biodiversity indicators where available
  • Programme administration linking chocolate sales to tree growing and protection activities
  • Continuous review to strengthen transparency, accountability and long-term programme impact
The One4One Tree Programme is an Original Beans initiative. It is not a carbon offset programme and should not be interpreted as making our products carbon neutral or climate positive.
Compostable 
Packaging
 From renewable wood fibres
Beyond the Chocolate
Our responsibility does not end with cacao. It also extends to the materials used to protect and deliver our chocolate.

In 2013, following 18 months of development with packaging specialists, Original Beans introduced one of the chocolate industry's first compostable foil wrappers for its 70g chocolate bars.

Building on this experience, we continued investing in packaging innovation and, after more than three years of research, development and testing, introduced a custom-made home-compostable certified packaging solution for our Organic Rainforest Couverture range in 2020.

Developed exclusively for Original Beans, this packaging was designed to meet the protection and performance requirements of professional chocolate products while using predominantly renewable materials.
What It Is Made Of
The packaging used for our Organic Rainforest Couverture bags is made primarily from renewable wood fibres rather than conventional plastic laminates.

To protect the chocolate from moisture, oxygen and light, the material also contains an ultra-thin aluminium barrier measuring approximately 4-6 angstroms (around half a nanometre). This layer represents only a very small part of the overall packaging structure while helping preserve product quality and shelf life.

The result is a packaging solution based predominantly on renewable materials while meeting the performance requirements required for professional chocolate.

Why it Matters

  • More than a decade of investment in packaging innovation
  • Home-compostable certified packaging for the Organic Rainforest Couverture range
  • Packaging made primarily from renewable wood fibres
  • Certified home compostable under DIN CERTCO certification No. 9P0044
  • Developed specifically to protect product quality throughout storage and transport
  • Continuous investment in improving packaging materials and performance
Certification & Scope
The home-compostable claim applies only to the Organic Rainforest Couverture packaging covered by DIN CERTCO Certification No. 9P0044.
Certification confirms that the packaging is suitable for home composting under the conditions specified by the certification scheme.

Disposal
Disposal options depend on local waste management systems.
Where home composting or suitable composting facilities are available, the certified Organic Rainforest Couverture packaging is designed to break down after use in accordance with the requirements of the DIN CERTCO certification.
Please follow your local disposal guidance to determine the most appropriate end-of-life route.

Continuous Improvement
We continue to evaluate and improve our packaging solutions as new materials, technologies and waste management infrastructure become available.