Making a more sustainable chocolate

PCC private label chocolate

In February, the season of chocolate hearts and hot cocoa and chocolate candy, something new is on many Valentine’s wish lists: A sustainable version of these traditional chocolate treats.

With news reports of heavy metals in commercial chocolates and ongoing concerns about child slave labor in the chocolate industry, PCC has taken several steps to work toward sustainable chocolates.

 

PCC private label chocolates

A major change came with a reformulated version of PCC chocolate chips and chocolate bars, which are believed to be the only organic bean-to-bar chocolates produced in Washington state.

Working with K’ul, the Bellingham-based producer of PCC private label chocolates, the partnership’s move to source cacao from a farmer-based co-operative in Ghana in 2023 significantly reduced naturally occurring lead and cadmium levels in its chocolates. (K’ul also tests every batch of cacao beans it uses for heavy metals, as detailed in this Q&A.)

As Adrienne Chamberlain, PCC’s private label manager, told Seattle Refined, the move means “we have full transparency and traceability into the agricultural and labor practices and ensures our confidence in every step in the process of getting from cacao bean to our shelves.”

K’ul buys cacao beans directly from farming cooperatives, getting more money to farmers rather than middlemen, and giving the company knowledge of farming practices. The company uses only organic and non-GMO ingredients.

The packaging on the reformulated bars and chips is made from 40% post-consumer recycled material and is recyclable through Ridwell’s multilayer plastic program.

The flavors of the bars has changed since they were originally introduced in 2020: The original Peruvian chocolate had fruitier undertones, PCC shoppers preferred the fudgier taste of the chocolate in the new bars made with Ghanian cacao beans.

 

Chocolates carried by PCC

PCC is believed to be the first U.S. grocer to sell only chocolate made from ethically sourced cocoa, announcing its commitment in 2013.

Among the specifics in PCC’s fair labor standard, chocolate vendors must provide assurance that cocoa suppliers do not engage in or allow child slave labor, and cocoa must be sourced from suppliers that can provide assurances about age, working conditions, and fair wages for all workers.

PCC enacted those requirements believing “it was something our customers would expect,” just as they want higher quality standards on dairy, meat and seafood, a former Sound Consumer editor said at the time.

For more than 10 years now, the co-op has literally been raising the bar for sustainable chocolate.

Also in this issue

Boon Boona brews coffee with a purpose

With his coffee company Boon Boona, Efrem Fesaha has brought East African coffee culture to Seattle's coffee scene.

Recycle twist ties and other plastics

You can now recycle twist ties, bread clips and other commonly used plastic tags at five PCC stores in a new pilot program at the co-op.

Letters to the Editor

Readers ask about Just Egg products, identifying bulk spices, and country of origin labels.