Toblerone

How ethical and sustainable is Toblerone? 

Toblerone is a chocolate brand found in The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Chocolate Ratings Table. Toblerone does not meet our ethical benchmark at this time and hope that the brand will consider this and take the necessary steps toward operating ethically in the future.

Find out more about the ethical issues facing the chocolate industry in our article on ethical chocolate.

The history of Toblerone

Toblerone is a Swiss chocolate bar that was created in 1908 by Theodor Tobler. It is made with honey and almond nugget and is recognised for its distinctive peak shape. After its ownership changed hands many times throughout its 100-year history, it was eventually acquired by Mondelēz International in 2012 and remains a Mondelēz brand to this day.

Compare Toblerone to other brands in our Ethical Chocolate Ratings Table.

For which criteria does Cadbury perform poorly? 

Toblerone received a low score in our research categories for Animal Welfare, Political Donations and the use of GM ingredients. This is due to Mondelēz, Toblerone’s parent company, which permits animal testing on its products in certain situations.

Mondelēz also released a statement about Genetically-Modified ingredients and why they can be used to develop products. This suggests that the brand does use GMOs in the production process, resulting in a bottom rating in the Genetic Modification category.

As well as this, the brand has donated thousands in the past few years towards US political elections and therefore receives the lowest score for Political Donations.

In what areas does Toblerone score well for its ethics?

Toblerone performed well regarding its environmental consideration due to reports released by its parent company that outline the environmental changes that are to be made in the coming years, setting out company goals to work towards a more ethical future. This means the brand has achieved a top rating in the Environmental Report category.

Toblerone is not vegan chocolate but claims to be suitable for vegetarians, thus achieving a middle rating in the Vegetarian/vegan category.

How can Toblerone improve its ethical rating?

The Good Shopping Guide calculates a brand’s Ethical Score by looking at three main criteria, Environment, People and Animals.

For Toblerone to qualify for Ethical Accreditation it must meet the minimum ethical benchmark required. A review of its supply chain, political donations and GMO policy would push the brand, as well as Mondelēz as a whole, in the right direction.

Why not look into Ethical Accreditation with The Good Shopping Guide if you work for or with a chocolate brand that places ethics at its core? These ecological and ethics certifications have benefited chocolate companies including Seed & Bean, Alter Eco, and Raw Living. Contact us for additional information or complete our brief initial assessment form.