Benchmarking self-declared social sustainability initiatives in cocoa sourcing

• Published in: Benchmarking : an international journal 2018-11, Vol.25 (9), p.3986-4008
• Main Authors: Lalwani, Sumit Kishore, Nunes, Breno, Chicksand, Daniel, Boojihawon, Dev Kumar (Roshan)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Certification; Chocolate; Cocoa; Collaboration; Entrepreneurship; Ethics; Farmers; Food contamination & poisoning; Food safety; Food supply; Human trafficking; Malpractice; Parameter identification; Partnerships; Performance enhancement; Process controls; Qualitative analysis; R&D; Research & development; Research methodology; Social conditions; Social problems; Social responsibility; Social sustainability; Sourcing; Stakeholders; Suppliers; Supply chain management; Supply chain sustainability; Supply chains; Sustainability; Sustainability reporting; Sustainable development; Sustainable practices
• ISSN: 1463-5771; 1758-4094
• DOI: 10.1108/BIJ-07-2017-0186

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the self-declared sustainability initiatives of the world’s four largest chocolate manufacturers (Ferrero, Mars, Mondelez and Nestlé) and the measures they take to tackle social problems within the context of establishing sustainable sourcing of cocoa in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Global cocoa supply chains are under continuous media and public scrutiny. Recent incidents of malpractice in supply chain management have left global chocolatiers vulnerable in terms of how they deal with social issues across their global supply chain networks. Critics have argued that there is a lack of consistency and transparency between what companies say and do in upholding sustainable practices across their supply chains. Design/methodology/approach The authors draw from the sustainable supply chain literature to develop our theoretical parameters and undertake a case-based analysis of the existing sustainability practices of these chocolatiers. Using the insights from this analysis, the authors propose a conceptual framework for a rigorous comparative assessment of self-declared sustainable sourcing initiatives of global agricultural supply chains. The methodology is qualitative and the research method is a secondary-data case study. Findings Four main parameters were identified and used to compare self-declared initiatives, namely: social sustainability certification from respectable bodies; code of conduct for suppliers; partnerships with the primary supply chain stakeholders; and supplier collaboration programme and improvement initiatives. The case companies chosen have implemented several initiatives, but the most prominent seem to indicate the reliance on third-party certification. Not all companies adopted a supplier code of conduct. The partnerships and collaboration programmes with different associations are presented as efficient for companies as well as farmers. Improvements in the conditions of farmers are advocated as a key result. Research limitations/implications This paper is based on self-declared secondary data. Subsequently, it is possible that the case companies did not document some practices; or that companies do not do what they claim. Practical implications This paper provides a comprehensive framework for agricultural businesses to compare their sustainability efforts and improve the performance of their supply chains, particularly those who belong to the cocoa supply chains. The proposed framework a