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Inspiring
Impact
Each year, we witness the transformative influence of cacao forest preservation, a climate-friendly supply chain, fair compensation, and empowerment of indigenous communities. Together with our community of customers, partners, and cacao growers, we drive these initiatives forward.
The Chocolate Foodprint 2023 is our continuing testament to this. In our wake we aim to leave light footprints, happy people, and growing forests.
IMPACT INDICATORS
behind the data
Rare & Pure
8
Rare cacao varieties
regrown (organic)
regrown (organic)
Big chocolate favours one sort of cacao bean, the easy to grow, bland type. That's not our style. Original Beans put cacao diversity at our heart because it not only improves the flavour of our chocolate, but also lowers many of the risks for growers and nature.
We commit to exclusively sourcing cacaos that are either wild, cultivated for several millennia or centuries, or of a younger but dedicated craft cacao heritage. Original Beans cultivate these varieties in partnership with cacao growers around the world, who have always grown the tastiest foods for themselves using nature-friendly practices. Good practices and good food go hand in hand, and happily, taste follows.
We commit to exclusively sourcing cacaos that are either wild, cultivated for several millennia or centuries, or of a younger but dedicated craft cacao heritage. Original Beans cultivate these varieties in partnership with cacao growers around the world, who have always grown the tastiest foods for themselves using nature-friendly practices. Good practices and good food go hand in hand, and happily, taste follows.
100%
Single-variety,
organic beans
organic beans
When it comes to food, knowledge is power, and nowadays many of us prefer to know where our food comes from. Yet most chocolate tells you nothing of the beans. For us, the term "single origin", or a simple reference to a country, or even region, is not enough.
Variety matters in cacao. That’s why Original Beans growers hand-select each harvest to assure beans of one sort and size. We run a tight ship. Literally, since we don’t allow other bean bags next to ours during ocean transport and warehousing. If in spite of all precautions, we still have to get rid of hitchhiking insects, we use organic methods. We never fumigate the beans with poisonous gases (another anonymous standard in chocolate).
Variety matters in cacao. That’s why Original Beans growers hand-select each harvest to assure beans of one sort and size. We run a tight ship. Literally, since we don’t allow other bean bags next to ours during ocean transport and warehousing. If in spite of all precautions, we still have to get rid of hitchhiking insects, we use organic methods. We never fumigate the beans with poisonous gases (another anonymous standard in chocolate).
behind the data
Fair+
100%
Living income
for growers
for growers
The reality of child labor in the chocolate industry is undeniable. By consuming or producing chocolate without questioning its source, individuals indirectly accept this exploitation. It's a straightforward correlation: Children are forced to work due to their families' extreme poverty.
Cheap chocolate has its price.
Many in the chocolate industry talk about paying a minimum “living income”. But few actually walk their talk.
And Original Beans? Well, we walked and then we talked. Living Income is a human right. We guarantee the Latin American grower families incomes that are currently 25% (US$ 2.690) above public living income. And the “poorer” African growers’ come out at 47% (US$ 2.066) above their countries’ minimum incomes.)
2944
Farmers schooled,
40% women
Poverty, writes the Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, is more than the lack of income. It’s a situation in which people are deprived of the ability to lead the lives they want. Poverty makes cacao farmers unfree.
Knowledge, in addition to income, is a force for freedom. So our support to the Original Beans cacao growers extends to education. Our field teams train the participating families not only on growing original beans in organic agroforests, but also on food gardening, beekeeping, leadership, even reading and writing.
We are especially proud that 40% of the farmers participating in our programs are women. Women can be particularly restricted by poverty and traditions, and yet their role in regenerating families and communities is immense, none more so than our Femme de Virunga.
Knowledge, in addition to income, is a force for freedom. So our support to the Original Beans cacao growers extends to education. Our field teams train the participating families not only on growing original beans in organic agroforests, but also on food gardening, beekeeping, leadership, even reading and writing.
We are especially proud that 40% of the farmers participating in our programs are women. Women can be particularly restricted by poverty and traditions, and yet their role in regenerating families and communities is immense, none more so than our Femme de Virunga.
behind the data
Wild Nature
8
Hotspot rainforests
regenerated
regenerated
Tropical forests shelter at least two thirds of all species on earth. All this life makes them great big green carbon drawdown factories. Therefore one of the most consequential climate actions we can take is their protection.
Thanks to biologists (the insect counting type), we know which forests are more important to protect and so we can focus our efforts there. These Biodiversity Hotspots or Global 200 regions are the ones where Original Beans works. Exclusively. Because we want to get you the biggest impact for your chocolate. A wild commitment to wild things.
Thanks to biologists (the insect counting type), we know which forests are more important to protect and so we can focus our efforts there. These Biodiversity Hotspots or Global 200 regions are the ones where Original Beans works. Exclusively. Because we want to get you the biggest impact for your chocolate. A wild commitment to wild things.
100%
Grown in regenerative
agroforestry
agroforestry
A climate solution that you can eat? That’s called a regenerative food system, and we’re all about it.
An Original Beans cacao (agro-)forest absorbs all the CO2 emissions created along the entire supply chain of the chocolate sourced from it. Food is also provided for the growers, because Original Beans’ craft cacao systems ensure the cultivation of several additional food crops.
Regenerative cacao cultures have perfected their farming for millenia - along with their culinary traditions. In the world’s oldest cacao systems, the Cacaotales of Tabasco in Mexico, Zoque growers cultivate up to 40 different crop and tree species, including chilli, vanilla, and cinnamon, all growing under the canopy of cedar and other forest trees.
An Original Beans cacao (agro-)forest absorbs all the CO2 emissions created along the entire supply chain of the chocolate sourced from it. Food is also provided for the growers, because Original Beans’ craft cacao systems ensure the cultivation of several additional food crops.
Regenerative cacao cultures have perfected their farming for millenia - along with their culinary traditions. In the world’s oldest cacao systems, the Cacaotales of Tabasco in Mexico, Zoque growers cultivate up to 40 different crop and tree species, including chilli, vanilla, and cinnamon, all growing under the canopy of cedar and other forest trees.
behind the data
Climate +
1,9 Million
Trees grown
in origins
Planting trees is usually a good thing, but if you’re not planting the right trees, in the right places, with the right people, it doesn't always do much. That’s why we say we don’t just plant trees - we grow trees. We do this by planting and growing trees that protect the old forests, and by giving the job to the tree experts we know best, the indigenous cacao growers who supply our beans. Because when tree growers become tree owners, the survival rate of newborn trees can rise above 80%. That’s a key number to watch when it comes to “planting a tree”.
Original Beans' One4One Trees is the world's longest-running one-for-one tree programme, and since 2010 our conservation payments have helped to save and restore tropical hotspot forests.
Original Beans' One4One Trees is the world's longest-running one-for-one tree programme, and since 2010 our conservation payments have helped to save and restore tropical hotspot forests.
15221
Tons of CO2
drawn-down
drawn-down
What’s the big deal about carbon? We’re all full of it, after all (humans are about 18.5% carbon by weight, trees about 50%). The problem comes when we send it out of the biosphere and into the atmosphere by slashing trees, favouring livestock over wildlife, and burning fossil fuels. So the best way to end the climate crisis is by reversing the logic: bring the carbon back home into the biosphere, into all the living things.
That’s where cacao gardens and rainforests come in. Full to bursting with living things, they are our great green drawdown factories. Call Original Beans cacao growers the drawdown factory managers. And value them, because our lives depend on it.
That’s where cacao gardens and rainforests come in. Full to bursting with living things, they are our great green drawdown factories. Call Original Beans cacao growers the drawdown factory managers. And value them, because our lives depend on it.
behind the data
Health
8%
Less sugar
Our brains are naturally drawn to sugar for its quick energy boost and mood-lifting effects, which historically served as a survival advantage. However, in today's world, the prevalence of highly processed and refined foods has turned this preference into a widespread health issue, with large food corporations profiting from our compromised well-being.
While sugar is often vilified, it's also an essential ingredient in chocolate production. To address this dilemma, we prioritize using unrefined cane sugar, which preserves the plant's nutrients and ensures a slower, more sustainable release into the bloodstream. Additionally, we opt for a higher percentage of cacao content compared to other competitors, resulting in a product with more cacao and less sugar.
Ultimately, premium cacao beans serve as a healthier alternative to sugar in our chocolate products.
1,9
Tons of packaging
waste avoided
waste avoided
At Original Beans we are proud to be judged by our covers. Our obsession with sustainability does not stop with our chocolate. Much of our thought and innovation also goes into our packaging and making sure our customers get all of the taste, without the waste.
From our climate-positive paper cartons for our chocolate bars to our innovative silver foil wrapping, made from over 90% trees, and the chocolate world’s first certified garden compostable foil.
For our commercial customers, our waste-free couverture packs, also made with magical wood fibres, are natural, renewable and compostable, and continue to help kitchens reduce trash.
If we put this much effort into our packaging, imagine how much care we put into what’s in it.
From our climate-positive paper cartons for our chocolate bars to our innovative silver foil wrapping, made from over 90% trees, and the chocolate world’s first certified garden compostable foil.
For our commercial customers, our waste-free couverture packs, also made with magical wood fibres, are natural, renewable and compostable, and continue to help kitchens reduce trash.
If we put this much effort into our packaging, imagine how much care we put into what’s in it.
our story
Dare To Be Rare
You are a chocolate lover, a food maker, a cacao grower, a regeneration ally. You have joined the mission together to regenerate what we consume.
Without you, no impact happens. Only together, we create the necessary change.
On our own we grow a regenerative business. Together, let's regenerate what we consume. Together 100% regenerative.
Without you, no impact happens. Only together, we create the necessary change.
On our own we grow a regenerative business. Together, let's regenerate what we consume. Together 100% regenerative.
