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Luker Chocolate

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BEYOND
SUSTAINABILITY

Home / Beyond sustainability

Since 1906, our founders’ vision to contribute to the sustainable development of rural communities in Colombia has been driving our company’s growth.

Proudly, we have preserved our values through time, thanks to the commitment and trust of employees and partners who have become part of our family.

Furthermore, as a company with strong ties to cocoa-growing communities in Colombia and true to our purpose, we have created The Chocolate Dream, our sustainability plan with a long-term vision to improve well-being, protect the environment, and increase the income of producers and communities, prioritizing the protection of children, women and young people across Colombia.

Going Beyond Sustainability, means we build long-term relationships with employees, small grower associations, and the communities so that, through chocolate, we can create together a more prosperous future based on their particular context and needs.

Strengthen the social well-being

Guarantee primary education, increase resilience and promote professional training and entrepreneurship in the regions where we work.

Increase the income of the small producer

With professionalization programs and the strengthening of associations, we seek to improve the productivity of their crops and increase the production of Fine Flavour Cocoa.

Work in balance with the environment

We maintain the balance between the land and its communities, protecting biodiversity, water and forests, and seeking to be carbon neutral by 2030.

+600

Rural jobs created on our farms

beyond -

100%

Compensated emissions scope I and II

beyond -

44

Environmental Guardians trained

beyond -

+2300

Families positively impacted

beyond -

+800

Children in our educational programs

beyond -

+200

Youth supported in their business initiatives

beyond -

+280

Children with new school facilities

We work to contribute to the following sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Download our latest Sustainability Report

The Chocolate Dream

Luker Chocolate’s collaborative plan that seeks to transform the chocolate value chain from its origin, building sustainable well-being in the communities of our strategic areas.

Know more

FREQUENTLY

ASKED QUESTIONS

We receive lots of questions about Luker Chocolate’s Sustainability policies. Most of these can be answered by referring to our Sustainability Report however we have highlighted some of the key ones below. If you would like further help please contact us.
What is The Chocolate Dream?

The Chocolate Dream is Luker’s collaborative sustainability plan, which brings together different actors of the chocolate value chain including USAID, Luker clients, NGO’s, local government, among  others, to build sustainable well-being in rural communities in Colombia.

  • The Chocolate Dream benefitted in 2021 more than 2300 families in rural communities in Colombia with projects in education, entrepreneurship, human rights enforcement, environmental protection, and farmer productivity among others.
  • In the past 3 years The Chocolate Dream has invested more than 5 million USD in sustainability projects from which 30% has been invested directly by Luker and the Luker Foundation.
  • Currently The Chocolate Dream has active projects in 6 regions in Colombia: Urabá, Caldas, Huila, Casanare, Tumaco and Bogotá.
Does Luker have its own farms?
Luker has 3 productive farms in Colombia (located in Urabá, Huila and Casanare), which serve as anchors to The Chocolate Dream. These farms create more than 700 quality jobs in the region and serve as promoters of environmental sustainability by championing the protection of the surrounding ecosystem and implementing cocoa plantations in agroforestry systems. Additionally, in 1962 Luker founded its own research and training farm in Caldas “Granja Luker”, where it offers training to farmers from around the country.
How does Luker define the price paid to farmers for their cocoa?
In the past 3 years Luker has paid, locally, in average 95% of the NY exchange FOB price for cocoa.  Through a shorter value chain, where we are directly responsible for purchasing at origin, we strive to maximize the percentage of the international price of cocoa, usually paid at export, that is transferred to farmers and farmer associations locally.
Are you 100% carbon neutral? What measures have you taken to reduce your carbon footprint?

In September 2021, Luker signed its commitment with Race to Zero, a global UN campaign committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Our goal is to be net-zero in carbon emissions by 2030. 

In 2021, Luker Chocolate was carbon neutral across all owned operations, including its farms. Furthermore, as part of these efforts, Luker reduced 52% in refrigerants CO2 emissions from 2020 to 2021, due to modifications made to chocolate production equipment.

We began tracking our carbon footprint at scope 3 in 2022, which encompasses all upstream and downstream operations and the footprint of our suppliers.

How do you prevent deforestation?
As members of the Cocoa Forests and Peace initiative, we are committed to prevent deforestation in our value chain. In our own farms, we have implemented agroforestry systems to ensure cocoa serves as a reforestation crop and drives the protection of biodiversity. Additionally, to ensure zero deforestation with small producers, we work closely with them and their communities to promote environmental awareness and good agricultural practices through education and professionalization programs for farmers.

RECENT

PUBLICATIONS

Guardians of the Tropical Dry Forests

Guardians of the Tropical Dry Forests

28/11/22

OUR CHALLENGEWe want to promote the environmental care of the tropical dry forest in Huila, avoiding desertification and protecting biodiversity. Tropical Dry Forest used to cover more than 9 million hectares in Colombia. Only 8% remain today. It is home to hundreds...