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OUR SUSTAINABLE CHOCOLATE

Luker sources its cacao from more than 15,000 farmers from across Colombia - a country where 180,000 hectares of cacao are distributed across 1.2 million square kilometers of land. Consequently, cacao is highly dispersed in small farms (each averaging three hectares).

Our commitment to fair trade practices ensures that all products —from dark chocolate bars to milk chocolate coatings— are purpose-driven, meeting the highest quality standards. 

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fair trade chocolate luker

DIRECT TRADE CHOCOLATE THAT GOES BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY 

Since 1906, our founders’ vision to contribute to the sustainable development of rural communities in Colombia has been driving our company’s growth.

Proudly, we have preserved our values through time, thanks to the commitment and trust of employees and partners who have become part of our family.

Furthermore, as a company with strong ties to cocoa-growing communities in Colombia and true to our purpose, we have created The Chocolate Dream, our sustainability plan with a long-term vision to improve well-being, protect the environment, and increase the income of cocoa farmers and communities, prioritizing the protection of children, women, and young people across Colombia.

Going Beyond Sustainability, means we build long-term relationships with employees, small grower associations, and the communities so that, through fair trade chocolate, we can create together a more prosperous future based on their context and needs.

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OUR 2023 IMPACT ON COCOA FARMERS AND THE COCOA INDUSTRY

luker cocoa farming 3900+ Families positively impacted
luker chocolate farmers 1000+ Farmers with increased income
luker-chocolate-icon-reduction-carbon-emissions 17% Of reduction in our direct carbon emissions
Compensated emissions scope I and II 100% Compensated emissions scope I and II

DOWNLOAD OUR SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023

Our report looks at the last two years, showing the challenges and successes we’ve had in our journey to sustainable & ethical chocolate. We’re still writing this story and invite you to join us.

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FAQs

We receive lots of questions about Luker Chocolate’s sustainable chocolate. Most of these can be answered by referring to our Sustainability Report however we have highlighted some of the key ones below. If you would like further help please contact us.

What is The Chocolate Dream?

The Chocolate Dream is Luker’s collaborative sustainability plan, which brings together different actors of the chocolate value chain including USAID, Luker clients, NGO’s, local government, among others, to build sustainable well-being in rural communities in Colombia.

  • The Chocolate Dream benefitted in 2021 more than 2300 families in rural communities in Colombia with projects in education, entrepreneurship, human rights enforcement, environmental protection, and sustainable farming practices, among others.
  • In the past 3 years, The Chocolate Dream has invested more than 5 million USD in sustainable cocoa projects from which 30% has been invested directly by Luker and the Luker Foundation.
  • Currently, The Chocolate Dream has active projects in 6 regions in Colombia: Urabá, Caldas, Huila, Casanare, Tumaco and Bogotá.
Does Luker have its own farms?

Luker has 3 productive farms in Colombia (located in Urabá, Huila and Casanare), which serve as anchors to The Chocolate Dream. These cocoa farms create more than 700 quality jobs in the region and serve as promoters of sustainable cocoa farming by championing the protection of the surrounding ecosystem and implementing cocoa plantations in agroforestry systems. Additionally, in 1962 Luker founded its own research and training farm in Caldas “Granja Luker”, where it offers training to farmers from around the country.

How does Luker ensure fair trade payments to cocoa farmers? In the past 3 years Luker has paid, locally, in average 95% of the NY exchange FOB price for cocoa. Through a shorter value chain, where we are directly responsible for purchasing at origin, we strive to maximize the percentage of the international price of cocoa, usually paid at export, that is transferred to farmers and farmer associations locally.
Are you 100% carbon neutral? What measures have you taken to reduce your carbon footprint?

In September 2021, Luker signed its commitment with Race to Zero, a global UN campaign committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Our goal is to be net-zero in carbon emissions by 2030.

In 2021, Luker Chocolate was carbon neutral across all owned operations, including its farms. Furthermore, as part of these efforts, Luker reduced 52% in refrigerants CO2 emissions from 2020 to 2021, due to modifications made to chocolate production equipment.

We began tracking our carbon footprint at scope 3 in 2022, which encompasses all upstream and downstream operations and the footprint of our suppliers.

How do you prevent deforestation?

As members of the Cocoa Forests and Peace initiative, we are committed to prevent deforestation in our value chain. In our own farms, we have implemented agroforestry systems to ensure cocoa serves as a reforestation crop and drives the protection of biodiversity. Additionally, to ensure zero deforestation with small producers, we work closely with them and their communities to promote environmental awareness and good agricultural practices through education and professionalization programs for farmers.

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