2026 Chocolate Scorecard Shows Improved Transparency, Major Gaps in Deforestation-Free Commitments

WASHINGTON, D.C. - More chocolate producers than ever are improving transparency, in turn creating a more visible disparity for those lagging behind in labor and environmental standards, according to the recently released 2026 Chocolate Scorecard. The scorecard, an independent initiative supported by the National Wildlife Federation and a growing list of partner organizations, is an annual effort to analyze chocolate company practices and evaluate labor, environmental, and transparency standards throughout their supply chains.

"While it's good to see progress on transparency, more action is needed to ensure cocoa-producing regions can thrive economically, socially, and environmentally over the long term." said Blanca Gonzalez Herrero, National Wildlife Federation's senior coordinator of tropical forest and agriculture.

Several companies scored above 70 percent on knowing their cocoa's sourcing, but below 30 percent pay farmers a living income. Beginning December 30, 2026, the European Union's Deforestation Regulation will require cocoa sold in Europe be verified as deforestation-free. To date, only eight of the 49 participating companies can prove they've achieved this verification.

The scorecard also found company disclosure has expanded significantly, with more medium and large chocolate makers demonstrating sustainable practices can happen at scale. Visibility into company practices has also increased significantly, with disclosure on child labor now near-universal among participating companies.

"In the 4th Edition, the answer most chocolate companies gave when asked how much child labor was in their supply chain was 'we don't know,'" said Fuzz Kitto, Be Slavery Free's Child and Forced Labor scorer. "In the 7th Edition, they answer in granular detail which would have been unimaginable a decade ago."

To supplement the Chocolate Scorecard, the National Wildlife Federation also released an "explainer" document about deforestation and labor exploitation in the chocolate industry. The document details the major challenges preventing change in the industry, and how governments and companies are attempting to remedy these issues. It also shows where the United States receives its cocoa and spotlights recommended policy reforms.

About the Chocolate Scorecard

The Chocolate Scorecard is a project of Be Slavery Free, delivered each year by a coalition of more than 30 NGOs, academic institutions, faith groups, and civil-society partners. Now in its seventh year, the initiative assesses companies representing the vast majority of global cocoa production across eight themes including traceability, living income, child and forced labor, deforestation, pesticides, gender equity and farmer health. For more information, visit https://www.chocolatescorecard.com/.