How Cargill is Reimagining the Cocoa Supply Chain
Cargill has unveiled a series of investments into its global cocoa supply chain, allowing the company to meet sustainable expectations.
The company is upgrading its supply chain on every level, from cocoa origin countries in West Africa to processing hubs in Europe.
The plans include measures to reduce carbon emissions, eliminate waste and boost efficiency throughout the chain.
Small changes, big impact
Founded in 1865 as a single grain warehouse, Cargill has grown into a global partner, operating in 70 countries with more than 160,000 employees worldwide.
It partners with farmers and customers to source, make and deliver products to customers, all while ensuring responsible and sustainable practices.
To cut waste, Cargill is making small changes that make big impacts throughout the entire chain. In Côte d’Ivoire, it's turning waste into energy by using once-discarded cocoa shells to fuel biomass boilers.
In Tema, production is powered by a solar plant, and disposable packaging is being replaced by new ISO tanks to transport cocoa butter. This alone means up to 100 tonnes of waste can be cut each month.
“Sustainability isn’t a single project at Cargill—it’s how we operate,” comments Emiel van Dijk, Managing Director of Cocoa & Chocolate Europe and West Africa. “From circular waste reuse to renewable transport and clean energy, we’re showing that climate action can scale, without compromise.”
Sustainability is built into every step of the production process, ensuring strong and lasting chains. From the warehouse to the final delivery, every step is examined and Cargill considers how it can reduce its negative impact.
Beans are stored in solar-powered warehouses near Amsterdam before transportation via fully-electric barges to Zaandam - cutting 190,000kg of CO2 emissions annually.
Cocoa shells are reused as fuel in Cargill’s biomass boiler in Amsterdam, reducing GHGs by almost 19,000 tonnes every year.
On the Amsterdam warehouses, Marijn Moesbergen, Cocoa Sourcing Director, says: “This location allows us to operate at scale while reducing our environmental footprint.
“By investing in infrastructure like this, we improve logistics efficiency, reduce emissions and ensure that cocoa arrives safely and responsibly at the heart of the European supply chain.”
The wider goal
Low-emission transport plays a big role in the final step of the production journey. The semi-finished products are shipped using BIO LNG trucks (heavy-duty vehicles using fuel produced from organic waste materials) to another warehouse in Zaandam.
This warehouse uses solar panels, automated vehicles and intermodal rail and barge connections, reducing last-mile impact.
Products are then delivered across Europe using renewable fuels and short sea shipping, which factors into Cargill’s global target to reduce supply chain emissions by 30% per ton of product by 2030.
“This is what sustainability at scale looks like,” adds Emiel. “It’s measurable, circular and designed to serve both people and the planet.”
Cargill believes that the success in the cocoa value chain goes hand in hand with benefits for cocoa farmers, so it works to create a sustainable, lasting supply chain.
Through the Cargill Cocoa Promise, Cargill aims to improve the livelihoods of a million farmers. By providing training in sustainable agriculture practices and access to resources, it will help farmers and their communities, as well as strengthening the cocoa supply chain.
Cargill is also committed to zero deforestation in its direct and indirect cocoa supply chain by 2030, ensuring it maintains supply chain transparency with farmer mapping and bean traceability.
The measures Cargill is taking to have a positive impact on the environment through its cocoa supply chain can be tracked every step of the way, and it looks right on track to meet its 2030 targets.
