2026 global report shows retailers still falling short on sustainable chocolate

Phys · May 10, 2026 · 380 words · By Kassi Klower

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What to know about 2026 global report shows retailers still falling short on sustainable chocolate

The article reports on the 7th Edition Chocolate Scorecard and a corresponding report from the University of Wollongong regarding sustainability in the chocolate industry. It highlights a gap between consumer expectations for ethical sourcing and the actual accountability of retailers in cocoa supply chains.

Propaganda risk 10%

Claims checked 6

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center75%

Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

2026 global report shows retailers still falling short on sustainable chocolate Sadie Harley Scientific Editor Andrew Zinin Lead Editor A global report into the chocolate industry has found that while some companies are improving their sustainability…

Why it matters

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

Common ground

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.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: 2026 global report shows retailers still falling short on sustainable chocolate?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The 7th Edition Chocolate Scorecard, released May 7, by Be Slavery Free?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-global-retailers-falling-short-sustainable.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 6 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified 4

check_circle Corroborated 2

verified

Claim 1: “The 7th Edition Chocolate Scorecard, released May 7, by Be Slavery Free”

VERIFIED

A web search result from Scoop News explicitly states that on May 7, 2026, Be Slavery Free released the 7th Edition of the Chocolate Scorecard.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Child labour is a recurring issue in cocoa production. Ivory Coast and Ghana, together produce nearly 60% of the world's cocoa each year. During the 2018/19 cocoa-growing season, research commissioned…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labour_in_cocoa_producti…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Kevin Brian Bales (born 1952) is Professor of Contemporary Slavery at the University of Nottingham, co-author of the Global Slavery Index, and was a co-founder and previously president of Free the Sl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Bales

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tony's Chocolonely, often shortened to Tony's, is a Dutch chocolate manufacturer and seller created in 2005 by television producer and journalist Teun van de Keuken as a protest against child exploita…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony's_Chocolonely

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “This year it assessed 49 companies.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web search results confirm the number of companies assessed: Scoop News mentions an 'assessment of 49 of the world's largest chocolate companies' and another source explicitly states 'This year it assessed 49 companies'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 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.
https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2026/global-report-shows-retail…

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web search NEUTRAL — The 6 biggest companies. These global chocolate giants dominate the industry, accounting for up to 80% of the chocolate sold worldwide. They own many of the brands you know and love—KitKat, Snickers, …
https://chocolatescorecard.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — "The scores are in, and this year’s chocolate villain is….," 8 April 2025. Today saw the release of the 2025 Chocolate Scorecard, the annual assessment of commodity traders, chocolate manufacturers an…
https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/global-2…

verified

Claim 3: “She recently co-authored a report, "Cocoa Sustainability for Retailers, 2026."”

VERIFIED

A web search result explicitly states that Dr. Stephanie Perkiss 'recently co-authored a report on Cocoa Sustainability for Retailers, 2026'.

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web search NEUTRAL — She recently co-authored a report on Cocoa Sustainability for Retailers, 2026.Dr Stephanie Perkiss says the Scorecard and the Cocoa Sustainability report highlight a persistent gap between consumer ex…
https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2026/global-report-shows-retail…

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web search NEUTRAL — Health Science Reports Author Guidelines - Wiley Online Library.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/23988835/homepa…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — ICCO composite cocoa bean prices in SDRs and US dollars. Cocoa bean prices on the London and New York futures markets. Trade in cocoa beans, cocoa products and chocolate by country of origin and desti…
https://www.icco.org/statistics/

verified

Claim 4: “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.”

VERIFIED

Web search results confirm Associate Professor Perkiss's role and her association with the Chocolate Scorecard, specifically mentioning her commentary on the 'dark side' of chocolate production in the context of the annual scorecard.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Associate Professor Perkiss said the dark side of chocolate production was in stark contrast to its marketing and reputation as a product of joy. “Chocolate is associated with happy moments, a delicac…
https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2024/annual-chocolate-scorecard…

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web search NEUTRAL — All business programs of the University of Wollongong are accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This accreditation provides an international seal of approval…
https://www.uowdubai.ac.ae/

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web search NEUTRAL — View mutual connections with Professor Ann. Professor Ann can introduce you to 10+ people at University of Wollongong.
https://au.linkedin.com/in/professor-ann-rogerson-b69a4520

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Claim 5: “The 7th Edition Chocolate Scorecard... highlights the industry's uneven progress across eight key areas—traceability, living income, child and forced labor, deforestation, agroforestry, pesticides, gender, and health”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm the scorecard's focus on these specific areas. One source explicitly lists traceability, living income, child and forced labour mitigation, climate and deforestation, and pesticide use, while others mention the general scope of the assessment.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 6th Edition Chocolate Scorecard. We’re here to help you to choose better. Check the scorecards.Verifying cocoa is traceable, child labor and deforestation-free. Additional cost of sustainable cocoa. S…
https://chocolatescorecard.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — In 2001, the chocolate industry promised to eliminate child labour from cocoa farming. They set deadlines, missed them, set new ones. By 2020, no child was meant to be working in hazardous conditions …
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2605/S00139/the-lights-cam…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Chocolate Scorecard judges firms on traceability, living income, child and forced labour mitigation, climate and deforestation, and pesticide use. (Image: Getty/FG Trade). Be Slavery Free’s intern…
https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2025/04/25/most-et…

verified

Claim 6: “Dr. Perkiss presented at the official launch of the report on Thursday, May 7, alongside NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner Dr. James Cockayne.”

VERIFIED

A web search result explicitly confirms that Dr. Perkiss presented at the official launch of the report on Thursday, May 7, alongside NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner Dr. James Cockayne.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Dr Perkiss presented at the official launch of the report on Thursday 7 May alongside NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner Dr James Cockayne. A Retail Stayers Award was given to eight retailers who have subm…
https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2026/global-report-shows-retail…

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web search NEUTRAL — NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner Dr James Cockayne welcomed Commissioner Evans' plan, congratulating him and his team “on this important milestone and the considerable work and consultation that has gone…
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/office-of-the-nsw-anti-slaver…

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web search NEUTRAL — In short: The expansion of a labour workforce scheme into aged care could put migrants at risk of exploitation, the NSW anti-slavery commissioner has warned. James Cockayne said modern slavery was a "…
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-01/nsw-anti-slavery-comm…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.