Memberships

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.

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.

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 2011, Lindt & Sprüngli has been sourcing 100.0% of its palm oil, palm kernel oil, and their fractions with RSPO Certification, initially according to the RSPO Book & Claim system, and since 2018, physical supply chain coverage has been secured for all volumes.

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).

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 Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa (GISCO): Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli GmbH has been an active member since 2014.

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.

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.

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.

The System Change Architecture for Learning Excellence (SCALE) initiative is designed to strengthen learning systems and educational outcomes in Ghana. Lindt & Sprüngli supports the initiative to expand access to quality education.

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is a global industry network that promotes sustainable business practices. Lindt & Sprüngli participates as a Steering Committee member of the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) and a member of the Net Zero Coalition, both represented by our Head of Responsible Sourcing. Additionally, we are a member of the Human Rights Coalition (HRC), represented by our Human Rights Manager. Through CGF, we engage in industry discussions on responsible sourcing, human rights, and climate action.

The Joint Cocoa Research Fund (JRF) was created in 2013 and managed by the European Cocoa Association (ECA) in collaboration with CAOBISCO. The JRF finances applied, pre competitive research addressing key challenges in the cocoa sector. The Fund focuses on cocoa bean quality and food safety, integrated pest and disease management, and resilient cropping systems in the context of climate change. As a Member since 2026, Lindt & Sprüngli contributes to jointly defined research programs that support science based solutions for the cocoa value chain from cocoa farming to chocolate production.