Chocolate Scorecard reveals gaps in cocoa transparency

The 7th Edition Chocolate Scorecard, released on 7 May by Be Slavery Free, highlights the industry’s uneven progress across eight key areas — traceability, living income, child and forced labour, deforestation, agroforestry, pesticides, gender and health.

University of Wollongong (UOW) Associate Professor Stephanie Perkiss from the School of Business is part of the Chocolate Scorecard team and sits on its Data Ethics and Integrity Committee. She recently co-authored a report on Cocoa Sustainability for Retailers, 2026.

“Consumers increasingly want to make ethical choices, but they depend on retailers to make those choices possible through transparency and responsible sourcing. This year’s Scorecard shows that progress is happening, but it is inconsistent, and too often accountability is fragmented,” she said.

The annual Scorecard evaluates major chocolate companies on sustainability performance and tracks transparency and accountability across global supply chains. This year it assessed 49 companies.

The Scorecard points to a broader trend across the industry, where improved monitoring has not yet translated into improved outcomes for cocoa-growing communities. While the industry has made significant advances in understanding its supply chains, translating that knowledge into fairer outcomes for farmers and more sustainable practices remains a challenge.

Perkiss presented at the official launch of the report alongside NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner Dr James Cockayne.

Image caption: Dr Stephanie Perkiss. Image: Supplied