Climate change mitigation measures
What are the SDGs?
In the fall of 2015, all 193 member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The Agenda provides a global framework for action for humanity and the planet. At the heart of the agreement are the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), which outline the areas where sustainable development must be strengthened and embedded. The Chocolate Museum aims to contribute to the achievement of these 17 goals. That is why they are all integrated into our permanent exhibition.
High-Quality Education
The goal of “Quality Education” is particularly important, as it serves as the foundation for achieving all other goals. The Chocolate Museum has therefore obtained certification as a Learning Center for Sustainable Development (ESD). The goal of ESD is to provide information about economic, environmental, and social interconnections. This is intended to empower people to make responsible decisions and take responsible action. ESD is therefore an integral part of the museum’s mission statement and the foundation of our educational work. Through our educational programs and the exhibition, we inform our museum visitors about the working and living conditions of cocoa farmers. We explain the environmental consequences of cocoa cultivation and the ongoing problem of exploitative child labor.
Climate Communication at the Chocolate Museum
As a certified educational institution for sustainable development, climate change and the preservation of ecosystems are central themes in our exhibition and in all our programs.
In addition to our commitment to ESD, we also want to lead by example as an institution. That is why we are implementing various measures as part of our in-house CO₂ reduction strategy. These measures are communicated transparently and described in detail in our sustainability report.
Examples of specific measures in museum operations include:
Energy Supply: The Chocolate Museum’s electricity needs are fully covered by a green electricity plan. The electricity supply is based on certificates of origin for renewable energy; the corresponding documentation is available (Greenbook Management).
Resource Conservation: In the gift shop and café, we use packaging made from FSC-certified paper or cardboard.
Additional Emissions Offsetting: The Chocolate Museum Cologne supports external reforestation projects in cooperation with Plant-for-the-Planet. This support is reported separately from the museum’s own greenhouse gas emissions and is not used to offset its own emissions or to claim climate neutrality. The emissions inventory required for offsetting was conducted in accordance with the recognized principles of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GGP).
2025 International Conference
The Chocolate Museum, in collaboration with the “SÜDWIND Institute,” is organizing the conference “Price Chaos in the Cocoa Market—Conflicts of Interest—Room for Change?”
The price of cocoa remained relatively stable for more than 10 years. Full inventories, reliable harvest forecasts, and low prices did not cause any concern, even when cocoa was purchased in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire that hadn’t even grown on the trees yet. A below-average harvest in 2022/23 was manageable—the following year would surely make up for it! But the 2023/24 harvest also turned out to be unexpectedly poor in both Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Ultimately, the global cocoa harvest was 11% below the previous year’s level. The markets reacted nervously, and the price rose—by 100, 200, even 300 percent. The inflation-adjusted price hadn’t been this high in decades. The chaotic price fluctuations are making it difficult to operate in the industry. Is this the new reality—or are we only seeing one side of the coin? What future scenarios are possible?
Partnership with Plant-for-the-Planet Extended!
The children’s and youth initiative “Plant-for-the-Planet” is a long-standing partner of the Chocolate Museum. In the early years of the partnership, the museum supported a tree-planting project in Mexico. Forest restoration is a challenging task that requires a long-term and holistic approach. Starting in 2026, we will therefore support a new project in Ghana, an important cocoa-producing country. Among other things, the project will investigate how damaged forests can be restored on a large scale and how lost species can be reintroduced; which methods are most effective in different ecosystems; and how forests can withstand the challenges of the climate crisis.
OroVerde Tropical Forest Foundation
The Chocolate Museum has been collaborating with the OroVerde Tropical Forest Foundation in Bonn for many years. Since 2012, the Chocolate Museum has been supporting the foundation’s work by selling chocolate from a “historic” chocolate vending machine in the cultural history exhibition. This vending machine is a fully functional replica of a historic Stollwerck machine from 1907. It was built for the museum’s opening over 30 years ago. In its projects, cacao is cultivated alongside other trees and shrubs in agroforestry systems. This form of cultivation can contribute to soil fertility and water retention. The goal is to reduce pressure on forest areas and preserve habitats for numerous animal species. According to OroVerde, the program also supports income opportunities for the participating cocoa farmers.
Forum on Sustainable Cocoa
Since 2012, the Chocolate Museum has been a member of the Forum for Sustainable Cocoa, an alliance of federal ministries, companies in the confectionery industry, retailers, and civil society organizations. As a so-called multistakeholder initiative, they work together to improve the living conditions of cocoa-farming families and help ensure their livelihoods. In addition, the initiative aims to conserve and preserve natural resources and biodiversity in cocoa-producing countries, as well as to increase cocoa sales. To this end, the Forum’s members work closely with the governments of cocoa-producing countries. By participating in the forum’s working groups, the Chocolate Museum contributes to the ongoing discussions.