Raw materials

We consider it important to make our sweets from raw materials which have been produced taking into account the interests of people, animals and the environment. Therefore, we work closely with our raw material suppliers to address social and environmental challenges.

Certified cocoa
Cocoa is the main and most important ingredient for chocolate. Cocoa trees grow only in a narrow area on either side of the equator in countries whose inhabitants are facing difficult economic and social conditions on a daily basis. This is why we consider it important to focus on sustainable and responsible cocoa farming, and in turn improving the working and living conditions of cocoa farmers.

In 2014, Kalev joined UTZ Certified, the world’s leading programme in supporting responsible and sustainable coffee, tea and cocoa farming. Since 2017, all of the cocoa required for making Kalev chocolate is certified, and all of our chocolate products have the right to use the UTZ Certified label. This label on the product indicates that the company supports responsible cocoa farming. By buying products with the UTZ label, you are also supporting that principle.

UTZ Certified is an international programme that was launched in the Netherlands in 2002.

• UTZ means “good” in the Mayan language
• UTZ is the world’s largest programme for responsible cocoa
• UTZ programme members include 807,000 cocoa farmers
• UTZ certified cocoa is produced in 18 countries, the three largest producers being Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria
• Chocolate products carrying the UTZ label are sold in 128 countries

Why UTZ certified cocoa?
The global cocoa sector is facing many challenges: an insufficient cultivation system, ageing cocoa trees, the use of incorrect chemicals and uncontrolled deforestation, in addition to the poor working conditions and low incomes of the cocoa farmers.

UTZ-programmi eesmärgiks on tõhusalt toimiv ja jälgitav sertifitseerimissüsteem sotsiaalselt ja keskkonnaalaselt vastutustundliku kakaotootmise tarvis. UTZ-programmiga liitunud kakaokasvatajad saavad juba täna suuremat saaki ja on osavamad oma farmi majandamisel, seejuures on paranenud nii nende töötingimused kui ka jälg keskkonnale.

How does UTZ work?
With UTZ, everything begins with more skilled cultivation, which will result in increased yields, increased income, and improvements in future prospects and environmental protection. By acquiring new skills and techniques with the help of the UTZ programme, cocoa farmers are able to get more out of their land and company.

Skilled cultivation leads to greater yields, but farmers are not only producing more; they are also experiencing improved crop quality and reduced expenses.

The cocoa farmers who have joined the UTZ programme are taught how to manage their farm better, for example. As a result, they will get a better-quality crop for less outlay, are able to invest in the well-being of their families and employees, and help secure their future. 

Environmental protection also has an important role within the UTZ programme. Farmers are taught how to use land, water, raw materials and energy economically and efficiently.

UTZ requires all worker rights to be guaranteed. To that end, there are clear written criteria based on the conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and compliance with these criteria is checked on a regular basis. Among other things, all workers must get sufficient rest and wages, according to national legislation, their living conditions must be good and their work environment must be safe.

UTZ wants to ensure that all of the cocoa farmers’ children grow up in a safe and healthy environment. Specific requirements have been set for the protection and development of children, including schooling and playtime. The use of child labour is prohibited. At the training sessions, it is explained to the farmers why it is important for children to go to school, and farmers are made aware of any health hazards associated with children working on the plantations and about keeping hazardous substances, tools, and so on out of the reach of children.

Thanks to the UTZ programme, an increasing number of cocoa farmers and farm workers feel motivated, healthier and respected. They and their families have more opportunities for reaching their goals; their children go to school, and they grow up in a safe and healthy environment.

Certified palm oil
Certain varieties of sweets and biscuits are made with palm oil based fat blends, mainly for technological reasons. Palm oil is obtained from the fruit of Elaeis oil palms of the Areacacae family. The advantage of oil palms is that they produce 10 times more yield per hectare than any other oil plant, which means that they need many times less arable land to grow. Oil palms are also the main source of livelihood for tens of thousands of people in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, rainforests have been cut irresponsibly over the years to establish oil palm plantations, causing damage to the environment.

An alternative to regular palm oil is certified raw material, which comes from controlled plantations and is produced responsibly. From 2018, we purchase only vegetable fats containing sustainable certified palm oil for the sweets produced at the Kalev factory. The company is certified by RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil). In parallel, our product development department is also looking for alternatives to palm oil based vegetable fats, both technologically and in other respects.