Dagoba Chocolate

OVERALL
Owned	USA
Rating

Chocolate makers

Founded in 2001 with a commitment to socially responsible business, Acquired by Hershey in 2006.

Company Ownership


Dagoba Chocolate	USA	website		facebook
Hershey Company, The owns 100% of Dagoba Chocolate	USA	website	email	facebook	twitter
Confectionery manufacturer USA's #1 chocolate company. Bought Artisan Confections Company (makers of Dagoba organic chocolate) in 2006. The Hershey Trust (which benefits the Milton Hershey School for disadvantaged children) controls 80% of Hershey's voting power.
Hershey Trust Company owns 80% of Hershey Company, The	USA	website	email
Trust company Hershey Trust Company, founded in 1905 by iconic confectioner Milton S. Hershey, is wholly owned by the Milton Hershey School Trust, which funds the Milton Hershey School, a school for underprivileged children, also founded by Hershey. Over US$7 billion in assets.

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Company Assessment

PRAISE

CRITICISM

INFORMATION

Dagoba Chocolate

Rainforest Alliance certified products

As of 2012, this company's entire product line is made with cacao from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Rainforest Alliance certification has been dubbed 'Fairtrade light' by critics, as it offers producers no minimum price for their crop, and guarantees a minimum of just 30% of the product is certified.
[Source 2014][More on Eco-Certification]

Organic products

This company manufactures products that are certified organic by USDA Certified Organic.
[More on Eco-Certification]

Hershey Company, The

Palm oil scorecard - WWF

This company received a score of 9 out of a possible total of 9 in the WWF Palm Oil Buyers' Scorecard 2016, which rates companies on what they are - and aren't - doing to prevent the negative environmental and social impacts of palm oil production.
[Source 2016][More on Palm Oil]

Commitment to zero deforestation 4/5

The Forest 500 identifies, ranks, and tracks the governments, companies and financial institutions worldwide that together could virtually eradicate tropical deforestation. Rankings are based on their public policies and commitments and potential impacts on tropical forests in the context of forest risk commodities (palm oil, soya, beef, leather, timber, and pulp and paper). This company received a score of 4/5.
[Source 2016][More on Forests]

Child labour scorecard

This website by German NGO Earth Link rates companies on their corporate policies against child labour, production monitoring and accusations of child labour. This company received at least one green mark, and no red marks, indicating good performance in one or more of these areas.
[Source 2013][More on Human Rights]

100% on Corporate Equality Index

This company is listed as having best practice on a report card on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in corporate America.
[Source 2019][More on Workers Rights]

64.7% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017

This company received a score of 64.7/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
[Source 2017][More on Sustainability Reporting]

Palm oil sourcing

This company sources palm oil from at least 20 of the 25 dirty palm oil producers identified in the 2018 Greenpeace report "The Final Countdown". In addition to deforestation, the 25 individual cases in the report include evidence of exploitation and social conflicts, illegal deforestation, development without permits, plantation development in areas zoned for protection and forest fires linked to land clearance.
[Source 2018][More on Palm Oil]

Human rights violations

This company appears on Global Exchange's list of "Most Wanted" Corporate Human Rights Violators "Alums" for refusing to use fair trade labour and continuing to support labour that violates human rights standards.
[Source 2017][More on Human Rights]

Water risk management

In their 2017 report 'Feeding Ourselves Thirsty', Ceres looks at how food sector companies are responding to water risks. 42 companies were assessed on a 0-100 point basis across four categories of water management: governance and strategy, direct operations, manufacturing supply chain and agricultural supply chain. This company received a score of 22/100.
[Source 2017][More on Habitats]

Plastic pollution

In 2018 volunteers collected and catalogued more than 187,000 pieces of trash from beach cleanups around the world to find out which corporations are contributing the most to the global plastic pollution problem. While not in the top 10, this company ranked as one of the world's worst plastic polluters.
[Source 2018][More on Oceans]

Nanoparticles in food products

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 2014][More on Product Safety]

22/100 in KnowTheChain Benchmark

In 2018 KnowTheChain benchmarked 120 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 22/100.
[Source 2018][More on Workers Rights]

Possible GE in US brands

This company has products rated RED in the Centre for Food Safety's True Food Shopper's Guide (USA). Products on the RED list contain ingredients that come from the most common GE crops (corn, soy, canola, cotton). Companies with products on this list have confirmed that their products may have or are likely to be made with GE ingredients, or have not denied using GE foods when given the opportunity to do so.
[Source 2013][More on Genetic Engineering]

Lead and cadmium in chocolate

In 2015 As You Sow, a consumer health protection organization, commissioned testing to measure levels of lead and cadmium in 42 chocolate products available at retailers across California. Products by this company were found to contain unsafe levels of lead and cadmium.
[Source 2015][More on Product Safety]

Investment in nanotechnology

Friends of the Earth's 2014 report "Tiny Ingredients, Big Risks" names this company as one of over 200 transnational food companies engaged in nanotechnology research and development, and on their way to commercializing products. New studies are adding to a growing body of scientific evidence indicating nanomaterials may be toxic to humans and the environment.
[Source 2014][More on Product Safety]

Protein Challenge 2040 member

This company is a member of The Protein Challenge 2040, a global coalition exploring how we feed nine billion people enough protein in a way which is affordable, healthy and good for the environment.
[Source 2016][More on Habitats]

World Cocoa Foundation member

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 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

Sustainable Brands member

This company is a Silver Member of the Sustainable Brands Network, the leading peer to peer, learning and networking group designed to support brands in meeting their sustainability goals and ultimately become those leaders of the next sustainable economy.
[Source 2018][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

Bonsucro member

This company is a member of Bonsucro - Better Sugar Cane Initiative, a global non-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation fostering the sustainability of the sugarcane sector through its leading metric-based certification scheme and its support for continuous improvement for members.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

Deforestation commitment

This company has signed up to the World Cocoa Foundation's frameworks to combat deforestation in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, signifying commitments on forest protection and restoration, and sustainable cocoa production and farmer livelihoods.
[Source 2017][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

Sedex member

This company is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a not-for-profit, membership organisation that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Tens of thousands of companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.
[Source 2018][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

BPA use

EWG's 2015 report "BPA in Canned Food" analyzed 252 canned food brands to find out which ones are still using BPA (bisphenol A), a synthetic estrogen found in the epoxy coatings of food cans which has been linked to many health problems. This company was amongst the 'Uncertain Players' for not making it clear whether they were using BPA in their cans.
[Source 2015][More on Product Safety]

C- grade in Chocolate Scorecard

Green America's 2016 Chocolate Scorecard rates companies on their use of ethically sourced, organic and non-GMO ingredients in their chocolate products. This company received a 'C-' grade, as they only certify a portion of their chocolate products at present.
[Source 2016][More on Workers Rights]

Human Rights Benchmark

The 2017 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 98 of the largest publicly traded companies in the world from the Agricultural Products, Apparel and Extractives sectors on 100 human rights indicators. This company's score was in the 30-39 band range. The overall average score was 28.7%.
[Source 2017][More on Human Rights]

Modern Slavery statement

California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
[Source 2016][More on Human Rights]

OpenSecrets.org profile

OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
[Source 2014]

Hershey Trust Company

No assessment data currently available for Hershey Trust Company

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Company Details

Company Structure

Wholly-owned subsidiary

Contact Details

Address	USA
Website	www.dagobachocolate.com

Products / Brands

Dagoba Chocolate

Dagoba

certified organic Chocolate

Dagoba Chocolate

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