Sustainable business management characterizes our entire value chain, from raw materials to finished goods. That’s why we also offer a majority of our product assortment in organic and fair trade quality. We use RSPO-certified compounds and Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. We handle our natural resources responsibly and are continually expanding our environmental protection measures. Of especial importance to us, however, are the immediate living and working conditions of the people. That is why we promote sustainable business practices and fair pay in cooperation with our suppliers around the globe. In our Code of Conduct, we focus on the environment and sustainability along with ethical business practices.
We are continuously working to position ourselves for the future and for long-term sustainability. Our sustainability report provides a comprehensive insight into the current status of our efforts, initiatives and progress with regard to environmental, social and economic sustainability.
For our organic chocolate, we at HERZA use exclusively raw materials from verifiably organic agriculture. The organic seal guarantees that the production, processing and trade of organic chocolate complies with the strict regulations of the EU ordinance on organic produce. (Eco-control agency number DE-ÖKO-001)
HERZA has been offering part of its product range in Fair Trade quality for years. For the smallholder producers, this means above all stable minimum prices and premiums for community projects as well as sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation. FLO ID 3731
In 2018 UTZ and Rainforest Alliance merged. Just like the UTZ label, the Rainforest Alliance seal stands for farmers and businesses that are working toward a world in which people and Nature live together in harmony. Since 2012 we’ve been supporting more sustainable farming by procuring suitably certified raw materials. What we began under UTZ, we continue under the new seal.
As a medium size manufacturer we have only limited influence on our supply chain, but we still want to trade fairly. An example of this is our commitment to a cooperative in Sierra Leone, whose beans we use in our organic chocolate.
By supporting “Farmer Field Schools” and tree nurseries, we make a direct contribution to protecting and improving the environment. We help educate cocoa farmers in techniques for sustainable cultivation and higher yields from their cocoa trees, for better incomes. We also contribute to the planting of shade trees in cocoa plantations, to prevent erosion, improve soil quality, improve cocoa yields and bind CO².
We follow the progress of “our” cooperative with great interest and are glad we can be part of it.
All around the world, we operate in line with an overarching Code of Conduct and the principles of responsibility of the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe, to which the group is firmly committed as its ideal.
Please find also our HERZA sustainability report here.
Contact
+49 40 500 176-0
HERZA Schokolade GmbH & Co. KG
Segeberger Chaussee 132
22850 Norderstedt, Germany
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