Mars is moving from setting broad sustainability targets to focusing on generational resilience around cocoa farming productivity and diversifying climate-smart cocoa production as cocoa prices fluctuate, according to its 2025 Cocoa for Generations report.
Cocoa prices have fallen sharply since record highs two years ago, according to Trading Economics data. Cocoa traded at roughly $5,616 per metric ton on Sept. 17, less than half the all-time high of $12,906 per ton in December 2024.
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Date: October 20, 2025 at 10 am GMT
In 2018, Mars launched Cocoa for Generations with a $1 billion, 10-year commitment to transform its cocoa supply chain. As one of the world’s largest confectionery manufacturers, Mars reports it largely met its goals around sourcing, child-labor monitoring and women’s empowerment.
In 2025, Mars said 98% of its cocoa volume was covered by its Responsibly Sourced Cocoa program, which is just below its 100% target. It also said it “fell slightly short” of its 100% sourcing and deforestation-free targets due to a volatile cocoa market. Per the report, 98% of Mars’ cocoa volumes were not linked to deforestation or the conversion of other natural ecosystems, 98% were traceable to farmers and 95% were traceable to mapped polygons (digitally mapped boundaries of farms using GPS coordinates).
On labor monitoring, the company positioned low farmer incomes as a key contributor to wider supply-chain challenges. It argues that creating stronger household livelihoods is imperative in mitigating child labor risks and securing resilient future cocoa supplies.
Last year, 282,340 farmers participated in Mars’ responsible sourcing program. The company reported that 100% of cocoa volume produced and bought via its West African responsible sourcing program was covered by Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems. While its Women for Change Initiative reached 106,239 Village Savings and Loan Association members, with roughly 77% of those members being women.
The company identified climate change, farmer incomes, pests a
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