French chocolatier Valrhona has released a Corporate Social Responsibility Report which urges suppliers, customers and distributors to “reinvent” the future together.
Valrhona says its “˜Live Long’ strategy is a “commitment to reinventing the world of chocolate”, with a focus on cocoa, environment, gastronomy and working together.
The brand aims to preserve cocoa with “great aromatic potential” and have a positive impact on producer communities. Its cocoa strategy is based on four pillars:
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Live Long: Valrhona’s commitment to reinventing the world of chocolate |
Quality – assisting producers in farming methods and post-harvest work
Sustainability – forging multi-year partnerships with producers and supporting the cocoa industry in small countries
Innovation – sharing expertise
Ethics and respecting the environment – projects to support communities by improving living conditions and respecting employment laws.
Valrhona supports planter communities in Belize, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Peru, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and Ghana.
Valrhona has set targets to halve its environmental impact by 2025, this includes a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and waste production. The brand also aims to reduce packaging and all new products will be eco-designed.
The company said it is determined to promote gastronomy-based professions and inspire new generations through its La Cité du Chocolat and Fondation Valrhona. It also underlines the importance of dialogue in its Live Long Together plan to develop a sustainable model “for, with, and thanks to our stakeholders.”
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Valrhona aims to have a positive impact on cocoa producing communities and assist producers in farming methods and post-harvest work |
Valrhona Head of CSR Carole Seignovert said: “Alone, we can only make small-scale changes, but when we work with our employees, customers, suppliers and all our partners, we can define a project with enthusiasm and the desire to act together at its heart.”
Seignovert added that 2015 marked a turning point in Valrhona’s CSR ambitions. “For years, we have upheld long-term relationships with our cocoa partners, involved our suppliers in our responsible approach to chocolate, engaged our customers in our CSR work, encouraged our employees to get involved in the community and led active partnerships with local collectives through the Fondation Valrhona.
“We are aware that our business will only perform in the future if it is sustainable. We have realigned our CSR policies so that – through each of them – we have an even wider positive impact on civil society and the environment. Our redesigned CSR policies are the occasion for our new identity: Live Long. Inspired by our involvement with one of our Ghanaian partners, Live Long is dedicated to durability and long-term commitment,” Seignovert concluded.
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