The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is leading the cocoa sector's drive towards consistent reporting with the launch of the first-ever greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting standard for cocoa. Developed in collaboration with Quantis, an environmental sustainability consultancy, with support from industry leaders, the GHG  Accounting Standard Methodology provides the cocoa industry with a sector-wide approach to measuring, reporting, and mitigating GHG emissions.   

The new standard is designed to help companies in the cocoa sector meet their Scope 3 reporting obligations. Covering topics like land use change, land management, carbon removals, and rebaselining, it empowers cocoa companies to consistently report to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and supports reporting in accordance with the GHG Protocol (GHGP) Land Sector and Removals Guidance draft (with the final to be released later this year), as well as future mandatory legislation.   

Michael Matarasso, impact director and head of North America, WCF, says: "Until now there has not been a consistent and detailed way for the cocoa industry to accurately report  greenhouse gas emissions. Companies have struggled with multiple methods that can deliver very different results. By aligning the cocoa sector around a best practice standard method, we are now streamlining emissions accounting. This will ensure that companies can report the most accurate data, support them to participate fully in climate related programming and deliver   associated financial benefits to farmers who partake in carbon projects."  

Alexandra Stern, land and agriculture lead, Quantis U.S., says: “This new standard is the product of a collaborative effort which integrated insights from key industry stakeholders to effectively address the sector’s unique challenges. By establishing a unified framework, it equips  companies with a practical, standardized approach to emissions reporting, fostering greater transparency and driving meaningful climate action.”  

More aligned cocoa emissions reporting 

The cocoa supply chain has long faced challenges in emissions reporting due to its complexity and diverse structure, which includes:    

• Land use complexity: Deforestation and land use change happening in cocoa supply chains, especially in fragmented smallholder contexts, demand rigorous and precise accounting.  
• Indirect supply chain uncertainty: Many cocoa supply chain activities are poorly understood, particularly in the indirect supply chain.  
• Inconsistent reporting: Despite the adoption of frameworks like the GHGP and SBTi, varying approaches to emissions tracking hinder comparability and progress.  

A unified approach: the GHG Accounting Standard Methodology 

Designed for cocoa companies across the value chain, the GHG Accounting Standard Methodology provides a step-by-step guide for establishing and achieving GHG emission reduction targets. To ensure swift uptake, it provides minimum requirements aligned with the   GHGP, as well as recommendations for those looking to go further. It includes:  

• Clear definitions for traceability and carbon sampling   
• Guidance on land use change emissions, land management emissions and carbon removals  
• Best practice recommendations for reporting in accordance with the GHGP's Land Sector and Removals Guidance  
• A standardized approach for Scope 3 emissions, ensuring consistency and comparability across the industry  
• Support for rebaselining corporate footprints to reflect more accurate emissions data.  

Tilmann Silber, head of net zero, Barry Callebaut, says: "Transparent and accurate reporting is essential to make sustainable chocolate the norm. With its unique position to represent the industry, we welcome WCF's new accounting standard for cocoa which, when combined with wider GHGP guidance, will move the sector towards actionable, consistent, and accurate reporting. In addition to helping companies meet their own cocoa greenhouse gas emission targets, this industry-wide standard will ensure aligned reporting from the entire cocoa sector, and further facilitate collaboration among suppliers and customers. "  

The GHG Accounting Standard Methodology adds to WCF's portfolio of methods, tools, and guidance designed to support sector-wide comprehensive monitoring and reporting on the most critical cocoa sustainability issues. Its Deforestation Risk Assessment Methodology aims to standardize how companies evaluate the deforestation risk for all cocoa plots destined for the European Union (EU) market and its Cocoa Household Income Study (CHIS) creates a standardized approach for measuring cocoa household income and living incomes.   

Related: WCF launches deforestation risk assessment methodology