Organic products companies – Did you know?
This link was shared with me on twitter a few weeks ago. I found it very interesting. Sometimes when a company name is new, you tend to think it’s a fresh new start. Not always as evident from at the chart above.
Having read The Big Green Purse and the theme of your dollars going to help the environment, does this information sort of water down the impact? It makes you wonder sometimes. Perhaps in some cases, the big companies that offer both regular products and organic products have the advantage of telling which products have the best profit margin and hopefully that will be the organic ones. (that’s what I would hope would happen!) or…it could be that organic products could subsidize the non organic product lines. What would that gain us? Not much as it would basically be a placation.
I realized that many times I am more suspicious than I should be about certain things. (hubby rolling eyes now!) It could be that these companies have our true interests at heart and are moving into these markets in a transition to help consumers get used to the idea of a different product line without breaking the bank. It seems a whole lot simpler and easier for customers to support independent businesses instead of worrying about the intentions of the big companies.
When I look at Hershey and Dogma, I think of the “blood cocoa” section of The Big Green Purse- p 132. American companies that buy cocoa and basically just don’t address the fact that the product is subsidizing unacceptable conditions in West Africa. West Africa provides 40-43% of the world’s cocoa beans. If we delve into this a bit, we find articles like this that state that Hershey in particular is funding a study to see just how bad it is (2001). The copyright on The Big Green Purse is 2008.
CMA said it plans to work with international organizations, local governments and human rights organizations to conduct a comprehensive study of working conditions in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, and will launch various pilot projects to build upon the study’s findings (Agence France-Presse, 22 Jun). Hershey Foods has also pledged to help fund the study, which will include 2,000 of the 600,000 cocoa farms in Cote d’Ivoire and 1,000 in Ghana. The study is expected to cost between $1 million and $2 million, Graham said (Bob Fernandez, Philadelphia Inquirer, 24 Jun).
Does it make you wonder how they can tell that the dogma organic cocoa beans aren’t in this same situation and picked by child slave labor? It’s not an easy fix and I’m sure that it’s really not easy for Hershey and/or Dogma to wrestle with these things. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t do it though. It also doesn’t mean that things will change next week either but we could steer the boat in the right direction.
Hershey and Dogma are only an example of what I’m talking about. Company associations can be important when you are looking to spend from your “big green” purse. Be sure to do your homework! It seems that new information can change things rapidly.
Happy Washing!
~Regina
3 Comments
Diane MacEachern
Regina,
You raise some valuable points. Buying “green” can still mean you’re doing business with a company that also produces mostly non-green goods. My hope is that, the more people favor the greenest choice, the less inclined companies will be to produce the alternative. Making green choices in the marketplace also creates momentum to pass stronger legislation and regulations. It’s up to us consumers to hold companies accountable – with our big green purse, with letters and phone calls, etc. – and let them know that just because they produce one green option doesn’t let them off the hook for their entire product line. Thanks for reminding your readers that they have a big green purse they can use to make a difference! Best, Diane MacEachern, Author, Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World
Susan Smith
Dear Regina,
I read your post and wanted to provide some updates and corrections to some of the statements made about the chocolate/cocoa industry.
You are correct that we are working to make a difference in the lives of those children who work on cocoa farms.
In fact, on July 1, 2008, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana (the world’s two largest cocoa producers) made separate announcements that they have put a certification process on child labor in place across an area that produces at least 50 percent of their cocoa. In both countries, the data collection element of the certification system has been completed and reports detailing the preliminary results of these surveys by the respective countries can be found here for Ghana and here for Cote d’Ivoire.
With more than two million family-run cocoa farms in West Africa, many have children who help out as members of the family. Without question though, there are serious issues here:
children helping out instead of attending school, child injuries due to kids undertaking unsafe tasks.
But there are many organizations that are changing the cocoa farming process. For example, the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is supported by more than 70 chocolate companies, including my employer – the National Confectioners Association.
WCF has been able to create and develop the public private partnerships that are needed to address the issues on cocoa farms. For example, WCF is working with cocoa farming families worldwide and has succeeded in securing more money for cocoa farmers’ crops (25 to 55 percent) by showing them more effective, sustainable farming techniques and co-operative development. The WCF’s “farmer field schools” approach empowers farmers through education and creates lasting, widespread change.
We are making a difference, but we also know that there is still much to be done. But before anyone rushes to conclusion, I would encourage you and your readers learn more about the efforts the chocolate/cocoa industry has taken to change the labor practices on cocoa farms by visiting http://www.worldcocoa.org
Finally, while you didn’t mention this in your posting, many people believe that if they buy fair trade (or any other label on chocolate), they are guaranteed that their chocolate was produced without any type of abusive labor practice. In reality, there is no such guarantee.
Susan Smith
National Confectioners Association
Regina
Thanks so much Diane MacEachern for taking the time to read my thoughts! Education is the key.
Susan Smith, Thank you also for your thoughts. I’d like to expand on a few things that you’ve said here.
The most important point is that most people aren’t looking for guarantees as much as a change in mindset. What actions do we support? i.e. palm oil in the soap making industry. It’s not sustaining and it’s also not chosen as an ingredient in my soap for social AND environmental reasons.
There are farming mindsets even in the US that center on children helping at harvest time. I don’t think that’s what we are talking about here. Slavery is NOT helping out the family. I’m sure the lines get muddy in cases but that is the stand mentioned in Dianne’s book.
Another blog article might be environment versus fair trade which also has social issues tied to it. I’ll be thinking on that one. Again, thanks for your input!