Lindt & Sprungli
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Chocolate manufacturers
Established in 1845. Lindt chocolates are sold in over 100 countries. Acquired Russell Stover Candies, USA's third largest confectionery company, in 2014.
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG | SWI | website |
Company Assessment
PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG | ||||
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of B-.
Source: CDP (2022) |
A 2017 investigation by Mighty Earth, "Chocolate's Dark Secret," found that a large amount of the cocoa used in chocolate produced by major chocolate companies, including this one, is grown illegally in national parks and other protected areas in Ivory Coast and Ghana. The countries are the world's two largest cocoa producers. The report documents how in several national parks and other protected areas, 90% or more of the land mass has been converted to cocoa. Less than four percent of Ivory Coast remains densely forested.
Source: Mighty Earth (2017)
Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This company received a score of 27%.
Source: Forest 500 (2022)
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of D.
Source: CDP (2022)
In 2020/21 KnowTheChain benchmarked over 180 large global companies in the ICT, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear sectors on their efforts to address forced labour and human trafficking in their supply chains. This company received a score of 32/100.
Source: KnowTheChain (2021)
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 22/100 in the Food Products category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2022) |
In 2022 Consumer Reports, an independent nonprofit member organisation, tested 28 dark chocolate bars for lead and cadmium. Products by this company were found to contain unsafe levels of lead and cadmium.
Source: Consumer Reports (2022)
This 2014 report by Friends of the Earth documents a tenfold increase in unregulated, unlabeled "nanofood" products on the American market since 2008. The report named this company among those with products containing unlabeled nano-ingredients. These nanomaterials differ significantly from larger particles of the same chemical composition, and new studies are adding to a growing body of scientific evidence indicating they may be more toxic to humans and the environment.
Source: FOE (2014)
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)
This company has products rated GREEN in the Centre for Food Safety's True Food Shopper's Guide (USA). Companies on the GREEN list have made a concerted effort to avoid GE ingredients and have company policies asserting their position on avoiding GE foods.
Source: Center for Food Safety USA (2018)
This company is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), an international membership organization representing more than 100 member companies across the cocoa value chain. WCF is committed to creating a sustainable cocoa economy through economic & social development and environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities.
Source: World Cocoa Foundation (2019)
This company is a member of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, demonstrating a commitment to no further conversion of any forest land for cocoa production in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. On March 2019, thirty-three company signatories, accounting for about 85% of global cocoa usage, released detailed individual action plans. The action plans focus on forest protection and restoration, sustainable cocoa production and farmers' livelihoods, and community engagement and social inclusion.
Source: World Cocoa Foundation (2020)
The WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2021 assesses 227 companies on the actions companies have taken to ensure their own palm oil supply chain is sustainable and free of deforestation, natural ecosystem conversion, and human rights abuse. This company is rated 'middle of the pack' with a score of 14.19 out of a possible total of 24.
Source: WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard (2021)
The 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 127 companies in the food and agriculture, ICT and automotive manufacturing sectors on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 20.1%. The overall average score was a disappointing 17.3% and the highest score was 50.3%.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2022)
Be Slavery Free's 2023 Chocolate Scorecard rates all the major chocolate companies on their labour and environmental policies and practices. Companies were asked questions in six areas: traceability and transparency; living income; child labor; deforestation and climate; agroforestry; and agrichemical management. This company received a yellow rating: "Making progress on implementing policies."
Source: Be Slavery Free (2023)
The 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #116/350, with a total score of 25.6/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021) |
Company Details
Type | Public company |
Revenue | 4 billion USD (2019) |
Employees | 13,168 (2019) |
Subsidiaries | Russell Stover Chocolates LLC ![]() Confectionery Founded in 1921. USA's third largest chocolate manufacturer, after Hershey and Mars. USA's largest manufacturer of boxed chocolates, under the brands Russell Stover, Whitman's and Pangburn's. Previously privately owned, the company was acquired by Lindt in 2014. Lindt & Sprungli (Australia) Pty Ltd ![]() Chocolate makers and coffee distributors In Australia Lindt and Sprungli distribute the Melitta coffee range. In 2016 Lindt opened the doors to its first chocolate factory in Australia. |
Contact Details
Address | Zurich, Switzerland |
Website | www.lindt-spruengli.com |
Products / Brands
Russell Stover
Whitman's Chocolate |
Lindt & Sprungli Australia
Lindor Chocolate Lindt Chocolate Lindt Milk Flavouring Lindt Chocolate Spread |