There’s no doubt about it. Easter’s an excellent time for chocolate lovers. Stores fill their shelves with every variety possible. And once a year, we get to hide chocolate in the garden – covering sugar-coated tracks as an “outdoor” activity.

The only conundrum we now face is how to find the “good egg” in the batch.  At Good2Give, we’re on a mission to find chocolate that’s sweet from the centre out.

Ethical labour conditions

Some 70 per cent of the world’s cocoa comes from West Africa, where labour rights are poorly regulated. What does this mean for the farmers? They often live in poverty and the working conditions are hazardous ranging from harmful pesticides, heavy machinery and the use of machetes.

What it also means is an estimated two million children currently work in cocoa harvesting in West Africa. Children as young as six are being trafficked across borders and forced to work in dangerous environments each year.

What can you do?

All you need to do is keep your eyes peeled for the Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade and UTZ certifications, which can be found in many stores across Australia, including Aldi, IGA, Coles and Woolworths to name a few.

While it’s important to check the certification of each product, Choice Australia recommends looking out for Haighs, Coles, Devine, Chocolatier Australia and a number of Aldi’s chocolate ranges with Dairy Find, Moser Roth and Choceur all Fairtrade.

Sustainable production

Palm oil is another vice in our chocolate. Their plantations, largely in South East Asia, are often managed at the expense of our forests, a deforestation that harms local eco-systems and in particular the protection of orang-utans.

What can you do?

For sustainable palm oil use Planet Ark recommends you look for the Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CPSU) certification. This can be found on Coles chocolate, Robern Menz, The Chocolate Box, Ferrero and Lindt.

But for palm oil free, make sure to get your hands on Haigh’s Chocolate, Pana Chocolate, Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, Koko Black, Whittaker’s and Pink Lady Chocolates.

The good news is that there’s lots of great chocolate out there to feast on this Easter. So get hunting! 

Note: Nominate Choice, Rainforest Alliance and Planet Arc as your charities of choice through workplace giving.