The Lindt & Sprüngli
Farming Program
What is the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program about?
We believe that producing premium chocolate requires acting ethically, respecting human rights and caring for the environment. As cocoa is integral to both our products and our strategy, we aim to source it according to a Responsible Sourcing Standard.
Since 2008, the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program has been our Responsible Sourcing Standard for cocoa. It was developed to address social and environmental impacts in our cocoa supply chain. The Farming Program aims to contribute to resilient livelihoods for cocoa farmers and their families and to promote Good Farming Practices and biodiverse landscapes. It is built on Rainforest Alliance certification and strengthened by targeted investments and activities beyond certification.
In 2025, we sourced 100% of our cocoa products – beans, butter, powder, and chocolate mass– through the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program or other Responsible Sourcing Standards. We aim to continue to source 100% of our cocoa volumes according to a Responsible Sourcing Standard annually between 2026 and 2030.
Challenges & our objectives
Cocoa farmers worldwide are essential for the sustainability and long-term success of our business. However, many cocoa farmers struggle to build resilient livelihoods from growing cocoa. Especially in West Africa, many live below the poverty line and child labor remains a persistent challenge. Moreover, cocoa accounts for the largest share of our carbon footprint, primarily due to historical land-use change. Although the challenges of the cocoa sector are complex and systemic, we believe that targeted investments, strategic partnerships, and collective action can drive meaningful change. Over the coming years, we will be working towards new commitments, deepening collaboration, and aligning with select global sustainability standards.
Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program 2026-2030
The Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program aims to address the most material impacts in the cocoa supply chain through three strategic pillars:
Support cocoa excellence
To Lindt & Sprüngli, sourcing cocoa with purpose entails building more traceable and resilient cocoa supply chains. Our Farming Program is anchored in long-term supplier partnerships and compliance with selected global due diligence standards.
Invest in responsible sourcing of cocoa
Source certified and traceable cocoa
Invest in livelihoods of farming families
Through the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program, we aim to contribute to the economic resilience of farming households, address child labor risks and support farming communities to promote children’s rights.
Support farming communities to promote children's rights
Contribute to economic resilience of farming households
Promote Good Farming Practices and biodiverse landscapes
Cocoa is not only integral to our products, it also accounts for the largest share of our carbon footprint. Through the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program, we work towards no deforestation, promote agroforestry, and support forest protection and restoration. We combine on-farm and landscape-level actions with the aim to support forest conservation and reduce emissions.
Promote Good Farming Practices
Support biodiversity conservation in target landscapes
Our Farming Program milestones
2008
Start of the Farming Program
in Ghana, with focus on traceability
and community development.
2012
Extension of the Farming Program
to cover four pillars: traceability, training,
community support, and verification.
2013
Lindt Cocoa Foundation
is established.
2014
Start of the Farming Program
in Ecuador
2015
Start of the Farming Program
in Madagascar
2016
Cocoa bean supply chain from Ghana
is 100% traceable and externally verified.
2017
Start of the Farming Program
in Papua New Guinea.
2018
Start of the Farming Program
in Dominican Republic.
2019
Launch of the No-Deforestation and
Agroforestry Action Plan for Cocoa.
2020
Interim goal reached:
100% traceable and externally verified cocoa bean supply.
2021
Start of the Farming Program in Peru.
2021
Start of the Farming Program in Côte d’Ivoire.
Cocoa butter sourced through the Farming Program for the first time.
2022
Cocoa powder sourced through the Farming Program for the first time.
2024
More than 84.2% of our cocoa products including beans, butter, powder, sourced through the Farming Program or other Responsible Sourcing Standards.
2025
We sourced 100% of cocoa products (beans, butter, powder, and chocolate mass) through the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program or other Responsible Sourcing Standards.