How fair is chocolate’s water footprint?
Understanding the extreme water poverty and climate vulnerability at the heart of the global cocoa trade in Côte d’lvoire
Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s largest producer of cocoa, supplying beans that are used in many of the world’s best-known chocolate brands. Millions of smallholder farmers depend on cocoa production for their livelihoods, making the sector critical both to the global food system and to rural economies in West Africa.
This briefing explores the fairness of water use and impacts in Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa supply chain, examining how water resources, risks and benefits are distributed across producers, communities and global markets. It highlights the challenges many farming communities face in accessing safe water and sanitation, alongside the growing pressures of climate change on cocoa production.
By analysing water use through a fair water footprint lens, the research identifies opportunities for companies, policymakers and partners to strengthen water stewardship, support farming communities, and build more resilient and equitable supply chains.
Link to the full technical report is also available here