The 10 Best Sustainable and Ethical Chocolate Brands

One can’t talk about ethical and sustainable chocolate without mentioning the rampant forced labor and humanitarian issues in the cocoa industry. So, when we set out to recommend our favorite chocolate brands, we decided to only nominate brands found on the Food Empowerment Project’s extensive list of recommended chocolate makers. F.E.P.'s list, which in particular looks at companies' vegan chocolate options, only recommends companies that do not source cocoa from regions known for the worst labor conditions. All the brands listed below all offer delicious, vegan, sustainably-made, and fair trade chocolate bars.

Slowcocoa makes vegan chocolate (dark, milk, and white) from smallholder farmers "as close as possible" to the company's studio. The brand's sourcing partner is Uncommon Cacao, a Certified B Corp that boasts a "radically transparent" cacao supply chain. Slowcocoa is located in the Bronx and uses 100 percent renewable wind energy. The company's packaging is compostable, and Slowcocoa products are available at farmer's markets across New York and New Jersey.

Alter Eco makes milk and dark USDA-certified organic chocolate. The company also makes chocolate products that are vegan, keto, paleo, and gluten-free for your preferred snacking. Alter Eco is a Certified B Corp, certified Carbon Neutral, and its truffle wrappers are compostable.

UNREAL Snacks makes chocolate products, including bars, cups, gems, pretzels, and covered almonds. A number of the company's dark chocolate products are vegan, including the dark nut butter cups, coconut bars, gems, and chocolate-covered almonds. Many of UNREAL's products are gluten-free and non-GMO, and every product uses Fairtrade-certified chocolate.

Note: F.E.P. only recommends UNREAL's dark chocolate gems.

Zazubean Organic Chocolates primarily makes three types of chocolate: its Superfoods line, its Coconut Sugar line, and its SLINKY - Zero Sugar Added line. All Zazubean chocolate is Fair For Life certified, with ingredients sourced from small farmers in the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Indonesia, and Panama. Additionally, Zazubean products are USDA-certified organic and mostly vegan.

Fran's Chocolates makes caramels, truffles, chocolate bars, and chocolate-covered fruits and nuts. The company is Certified Fairtrade and uses USDA-certified organic ingredients. Many of Fran's Chocolates products are plant-based, and the company's Plant-Based Collection includes Pressed Figs, Hazelnut Trios, and more. The company was inspired by founder Fran Bigelow's "life-changing" trip to Paris, and has been in existence since 1982.

Moo Free Chocolates come in many forms, including buttons, bars, jumbles, and more. The company's products are all vegan and gluten-free, and some products are organic. Moo Free is a Certified B Corp and BRCGS Food Safety certified, and the company has a partnership with Noodle Poodle, an ethical card games company.

Note: F.E.P. only recommends Moo Free's organic chocolates.

Cocomels' full line of coconut milk caramels are USDA-certified organic, as well as vegan. The treats come in a wide range of flavors, are Non-GMO Project Verified, and have options made with cane sugar and coconut sugar, as well as <1g Sugar Cocomels, which are sweetened with allulose and monkfruit.

Lagusta’s Luscious is a chocolatier that makes a variety of products including caramels, barks, bonbons, and bars. The company is fully vegan and ethically sources its chocolate from Ecuador, working directly with suppliers. Chocolates are packaged in post-consumer recycled paper and packing materials. Lagusta’s Luscious has a shop and café you can visit in New Paltz, N.Y.

Taza Chocolate makes stone ground chocolate using traditional Mexican stone mills, called molinos, to grind chocolate. The company's products include chocolate bars, discs, and snacks in a wide range of flavors. Taza Chocolate is Direct Trade Certified, USDA-certified organic, certified gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO. Customers can visit Taza Chocolate's Factory Store in Massachusetts for a tour and tasting.

Note: F.E.P. recommends all Taza products except for the barks.

Zimt Artisan Chocolates specializes in organic vegan chocolate products, crafted in Vancouver. The company sells drinking chocolate mix, chocolate bars, chocolate bark, candy bars, macaroons, baking chocolate, and caramels. Zimt gets its cacao from an organization called the OCE that works with several cacao producers in Peru. 1 percent of all sales go to charity, including animal sanctuaries Hearts on Noses and Home for Hooves.