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Hershey Commits To Protect Forests In Cocoa-Growing Regions

HERSHEY, PA -- Hershey Co. said it has made a commitment to no new deforestation in its global cocoa supply chain. The commitment includes two fundamental components. The first is no new deforestation for cocoa through a strict commitment not to source cocoa from anywhere in the world where new deforestation has occurred, effective immediately. The second is agroforestry to support shade-grown cocoa through tree-planting programs. Hershey says it will achieving its...

February 6, 2018

HERSHEY, PA -- Hershey Co. said it has made a commitment to no new deforestation in its global cocoa supply chain.  
    
The commitment includes two fundamental components. The first is no new deforestation for cocoa through a strict commitment not to source cocoa from anywhere in the world where new deforestation has occurred, effective immediately. The second is agroforestry to support shade-grown cocoa through tree-planting programs.   

Hershey says it will achieving its goals through its own forest initiatives and its work with the World Cocoa Foundation and its Cocoa & Forests Initiative, an industry commitment announced in 2017 to protect and help restore forests and support sustainable cocoa production and farmer livelihoods.    

Hershey will help to stop the illegal deforestation that has been occurring for decades, especially in national parks and reserves and helping to rejuvenate forests impacted by farming activities.  

Hershey will develop a comprehensive forestry plan in 2018 to outline its agroforestry programs, tree-planting goals, supplier guidelines and monitoring, and timelines to achieve its forest protection and reforestation goals.