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, 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.
OUR COMPANY OBJECTIVES
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.
OUR IMPACT
2021
+2300
Families positively impacted
+800
Children in our educational programs
+200
Youth supported in their business initiatives
+280
Children with new school facilities
+600
Rural jobs created on our farms
100%
Compensated emissions scope I and II
44
Environmental Guardians trained
We work to contribute to the following sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Beyond Sustainability: Frequently Asked Questions
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.
As of 2021, Luker Chocolate is carbon neutral across all owned operations, including its farms. Furthermore, as part of these efforts, Luker achieved a reduction of 52% in refrigerants CO2 emissions from 2020 to 2021, due to modifications made to chocolate production equipment.
The next stage is to become carbon neutral with external suppliers by the end of 2022 and achieve full compensation through certified carbon bonds resulting from it own farms carbon surplus.
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.
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