World Cocoa Foundation (WCF)
The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is an international membership organization that promotes sustainability in the cocoa sector by providing cocoa farmers with the support they need to grow high quality cocoa and strengthen their communities.
Lindt & Sprüngli has been a member of WCF since 2015, and regularly supports specific projects and initiatives of the organization, including the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) to end deforestation and restore forest areas. The Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lindt & Sprüngli serves as a WCF board member.
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) promotes the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through co-operation within the supply chain.
Lindt & Sprüngli has been a member of RSPO since 2008. Since 2015, Lindt & Sprüngli has sourced 100% of its palm oil, palm kernel oil, and their fractions, with RSPO certification. The Group reports yearly to the RSPO on its progress.
Dr. Rudolf K. Sprüngli (CH)
Earthworm Foundation
The Earthworm Foundation is a non-profit organization working with global companies, NGOs and communities to transform supply chains for people and nature.
In 2015, Lindt & Sprüngli started working with the Earthworm Foundation as an external assessment partner and became an official member in 2016. At least once a year, the Earthworm Foundation visits and evaluates each of the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Programs.
UN Global Compact
The UN Global Compact (UNGC) aims to align business operations and strategies with ten principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption; and drive strategic business actions to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation.
As a UN Global Compact member, Lindt & Sprüngli reports yearly on its progress against the UNGC principles (see Sustainability Report).
Carbon Disclosure Project
The CDP is a not-for-profit charity that collects disclosures on environmental impacts. Lindt & Sprüngli’s annual responses to the Climate and Forest questionnaires are available to investors and other stakeholders on the CDP website.
National Initiatives on Sustainable Cocoa in Europe (ISCOs)
The National Initiatives on Sustainable Cocoa in Europe (ISCOs) are multi-stakeholder initiatives for more sustainability in the cocoa value chain. They foster collaboration between the cocoa and chocolate industry, the public sector, non-governmental organizations, and research institutes. Together, ISCO members actively engage on topics including improving the living conditions of cocoa farmers, protecting natural resources, and promoting biodiversity in cocoa producing countries.
SWISSCO (Since 2018)
The Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO): Lindt & Sprüngli (Switzerland) AG and the Lindt Cocoa Foundation have been active members since its foundation in January 2018 and also participate in its working groups.
GISCO (Since 2014)
The German Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (GISCO): Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli GmbH has been an active member since 2014.
Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI)
The Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) is a public-private partnership to end cocoa-related deforestation and forest degradation and promote forest restoration. The governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and 36 cocoa and chocolate companies collaborate within the framework of CFI with other stakeholders such as NGOs, farmer organizations and civil society organizations on the development and implementation of business-driven solutions. CFI is driven by the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF); IDH - the Sustainable Trade Initiative; and the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
It contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land) and is aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement.
As active member of the CFI since 2017, Lindt & Sprüngli reports on progress on an annual basis (see No-Deforestation & Agroforestry Progress Report).
Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC)
The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) aims to bring sustainable packaging stakeholders together to catalyze actionable improvements to packaging systems and lend an authoritative voice on issues related to packaging sustainability.
Lindt & Sprüngli became an official member in 2021 to support progress and collaboration towards its sustainable packaging commitments.
GreenBiz Executive Network (GBEN)
The GreenBiz Executive Network (GBEN) is a membership-based, peer-to-peer learning forum for sustainability executives from the world’s largest companies. It provides access to the most current thinking on sustainability in the corporate setting to enable members to gain guidance and insight for better decision-making.
CLEF Child Learning and Education Facility
CLEF is an innovative public-private partnership focused on scaling investments to systematically improve access to quality education in Côte d’Ivoire. Scaling education is an essential tool to promote children’s rights and combat child labor. The partnership brings together the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, the cocoa and chocolate industry, and philanthropic organizations.
International Cocoa Initiative (ICI)
ICI is a non-profit foundation that works to prevent and address child labor and forced labor in cocoa-growing areas in West Africa. To protect the rights of children and adults, ICI brings together civil society, the cocoa industry, international organizations and donors, farming cooperatives, governments, regional bodies, and more stakeholders.
Industry associations, chambers of commerce and other organizations
Based on our size, global presence, and the nature of our business, we participate in select industry groups, membership associations and multi-stakeholder initiatives at Group or local level. Selectively we may engage in political debates of legitimate interest to us either directly or through trade associations. The company does not use corporate funds for the express purpose of political campaign contributions. Listed below are those organizations in which we participate to discuss universal sustainability challenges and help create broader change. The list additionally includes a list of those associations which represent our most significant financial contributions and/or participation in projects or leadership roles.
Memberships and Partnerships
- L’Alliance 7 – professional federation of nine French unions in the grocery and specialized nutrition trades. Lindt & Sprüngli France is a general member and participates in projects or committees.
- Bundesverband der Deutschen Süsswarenindustrie (BDSI) – trade organization for the German confectionary industry. The CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli Germany serves as a member of the board of the chocolate, chocolate products and cocoa division of the BDSI.
- CAOBISCO - Association of Chocolate, Biscuits and Confectionery Industries of Europe. Lindt & Sprüngli International is a general member.
- Children’s Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) – an initiative of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to improve the landscape of food advertising to children. Lindt & Sprüngli International participates as a general member. Lindt & Sprüngli USA, Ghirardelli and Russell Stover are CFBAI pledge signatories (See Responsible Marketing).
- Chocosuisse – association of Swiss chocolate manufacturers. The CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli Switzerland serves as a member of management; and the Head of HR of Lindt & Sprüngli Switzerland serves as President of the Commission for Personnel Matters.
- Confindustria Varese – association of Italian enterprises. Lindt & Sprüngli Italy participates as a general member.
- Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK) – German chamber of commerce and industry. Lindt & Sprüngli Germany participates as a general member.
- Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science – independent, non-profit center for research into marketing. The Global Head of Marketing of Lindt & Sprüngli International serves as a member of the Ehrenberg-Bass European Advisory Board.
- Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) – association of companies that provide access to food, health, and consumer products in Canada. Lindt & Sprüngli Canada is a general member and participates in several working groups and councils. The CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli Canada serves as a member of the Food & Consumer Products Management Committee (Board Committee).
- Institut de liaisons des entreprises de consommation (ILEC) – association of French FMCG manufacturers and brands. Lindt & Sprüngli France is a general member and participates in projects or committees.
- National Confectioners Association – trade organization for the US confectionary industry. Lindt & Sprüngli USA, Russel Stover, and Ghirardelli participate as general members. The CEO of Ghirardelli serves as a member of the Board of Trustees and Strategic Advisory Council; and the VP of R&D and Quality of Ghirardelli and the Senior Director of Food Safety and Quality of Russell Stover serve as members of the Chocolate Council.
- Promarca – association of brand companies in the consumer goods sector in Switzerland. The CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli Switzerland serves as a member of the Board of Directors and the Head of Marketing of Lindt & Sprüngli Switzerland is a member of the Commission for Brand Management.
- The Conference Board - independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit organization delivering business insights. Lindt & Sprüngli International is a general member and participates in projects or committees.
- Unione Italiana Food – association of Italian food product categories. Lindt & Sprüngli Italy participates as a general member.
- World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) – global organization representing marketers. Lindt & Sprüngli International participates as a general member and participates in projects or committees.
