IROs identified (grouped)

GroupImpactsRisksOpportunities
Climate and Environmental- Significant greenhouse gas emissions
- High water usage
- Deforestation
- Intensive resource use
- Increased operational costs due to carbon pricing
- Regulatory fines for water pollution
- Supply chain disruptions from climate-related events
- Volatility in raw material prices
- Investment in renewable energy
- Water-efficient technologies
- Restoration projects
- Sustainable raw material sourcing
Supply Chain Management- Dependence on non-renewable resources
- Fair wages and safe working conditions
- Elimination of child labor
- Supply chain disruptions from unethical practices
- Resource scarcity
- Legal liabilities related to labor violations
- Building a responsible supply chain
- Strengthening supplier relationships
- Innovation in alternative materials
Social Responsibility- Employee well-being
- Impact on local communities
- Health and safety of products
- High turnover rates
- Labor disputes
- Community opposition
- Loss of consumer trust
- Enhanced employee engagement
- Community development initiatives
- Transparent practices
- Enhancing brand loyalty
Governance and Compliance- Ethical business practices
- Effective risk management
- Transparent decision-making processes
- Legal penalties
- Reputation damage
- Strategic failures
- Inefficiencies from inadequate management practices
- Building a trustworthy brand
- Improved operational efficiency
- Enhanced investor confidence
Resource and Operational Efficiency- Intensive use of raw materials
- Dependence on non-renewable resources
- Resource scarcity affecting production continuity- Innovation in eco-friendly materials
- Implementing energy-efficient processes
Community and Stakeholder Engagement- Impact on local communities
- Access to education and healthcare in cocoa regions
- Social unrest affecting production areas- Collaborative projects enhancing local infrastructure
- Fostering goodwill through community initiatives
Product Transparency and Health- Health and safety of food products
- Transparency in labeling and sourcing
- Decline in sales from negative perceptions- Growing market for ethically sourced and healthy products
- Enhancing brand loyalty through transparency

Ranking

MatterImpact MaterialityRiskOpportunityFinancial Materiality (Risk + Opportunity)Double Materiality (Combined)
E1 Climate Change44344
E3 Water & Marine Resources43234
E4 Biodiversity2355
E6 Resource Use and Raw Materials44344
S1 Own Workforce3223
S2 Workers in the Value Chain54345
S3 Affected Communities3223
S4 Consumers and End-users44344
G1 Business Conduct43234
G2 Management and Control2333

5: critical, 4: significant, 3: important, 2: informational, 1: minimal

Decisions of Ranking

E1 Climate Change

  • Impact Materiality:
    • Significant greenhouse gas emissions from production and transportation
    • Vulnerability to extreme weather affecting cocoa yields
  • Risk:
    • Increased operational costs due to carbon pricing
    • Supply chain disruptions from climate-related events
  • Opportunity:
    • Investment in renewable energy reducing long-term costs
    • Development of climate-resilient cocoa varieties

E3 Water & Marine Resources

  • Impact Materiality:
    • High water usage in processing and farming
    • Potential water pollution from agrochemicals
  • Risk:
    • Regulatory fines for water pollution
    • Scarcity of water resources affecting production
  • Opportunity:
    • Implementation of water-efficient technologies
    • Certification for sustainable water management practices

E4 Biodiversity

  • Impact Materiality:
    • Deforestation for cocoa plantations reducing biodiversity
    • Habitat loss impacting local ecosystems
  • Risk:
    • Loss of ecosystem services vital for agriculture
    • Reputational damage from biodiversity degradation
  • Opportunity:
    • Restoration projects enhancing ecosystem health
    • Partnering with conservation organizations for sustainable practices

E6 Resource Use and Raw Materials

  • Impact Materiality:
    • Intensive use of raw materials like cocoa, sugar, and packaging
    • Dependence on non-renewable resources
  • Risk:
    • Volatility in raw material prices
    • Resource scarcity impacting production continuity
  • Opportunity:
    • Sourcing sustainable and certified raw materials
    • Innovation in alternative, eco-friendly materials

S1 Own Workforce

  • Impact Materiality:
    • Employee well-being and fair labor practices
    • Training and development opportunities
  • Risk:
    • High turnover rates affecting productivity
    • Potential labor disputes or strikes
  • Opportunity:
    • Enhanced employee engagement and satisfaction
    • Attracting talent through strong HR practices

S2 Workers in the Value Chain

  • Impact Materiality:
    • Fair wages and safe working conditions for suppliers
    • Elimination of child labor in cocoa farms
  • Risk:
    • Supply chain disruptions from unethical practices
    • Legal liabilities related to labor violations
  • Opportunity:
    • Building a responsible and reliable supply chain
    • Strengthening supplier relationships through support programs

S3 Affected Communities

  • Impact Materiality:
    • Impact of farming practices on local communities
    • Access to education and healthcare in cocoa regions
  • Risk:
    • Community opposition to business operations
    • Social unrest affecting production areas
  • Opportunity:
    • Community development initiatives fostering goodwill
    • Collaborative projects enhancing local infrastructure

S4 Consumers and End-users

  • Impact Materiality:
    • Health and safety of food products
    • Transparency in labeling and sourcing
  • Risk:
    • Loss of consumer trust due to unethical practices
    • Decline in sales from negative perceptions
  • Opportunity:
    • Growing market for ethically sourced and healthy products
    • Enhancing brand loyalty through transparent practices

G1 Business Conduct

  • Impact Materiality:
    • Ethical business practices and anti-corruption measures
    • Compliance with industry standards and regulations
  • Risk:
    • Legal penalties from non-compliance
    • Damage to reputation from unethical behavior
  • Opportunity:
    • Building a trustworthy and reputable brand
    • Attracting investors through strong governance

G2 Management and Control

  • Impact Materiality:
    • Effective risk management and internal controls
    • Transparent decision-making processes
  • Risk:
    • Poor governance leading to strategic failures
    • Inefficiencies from inadequate management practices
  • Opportunity:
    • Improved operational efficiency and accountability
    • Enhanced investor confidence through robust governance

Stakeholder Interview Summaries

Consumers

  • Demand for ethically sourced and fair-trade products
  • Concerns about product health and safety
  • Preference for transparent labeling and sourcing information
  • Desire for environmentally friendly packaging
  • Willingness to pay premium for sustainable products

Customers (Retailers)

  • Requirement for consistent supply of high-quality cocoa
  • Interest in sustainability certifications (e.g., Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance)
  • Need for transparency in supply chain practices
  • Demand for environmentally friendly packaging options
  • Preference for partners with strong CSR initiatives

Employees

  • Importance of fair wages and safe working conditions
  • Desire for training and development opportunities
  • Interest in company’s sustainability and CSR efforts
  • Need for a diverse and inclusive workplace
  • Concerns about job security and company’s long-term sustainability

Supply Chain Partners

  • Requirement for sustainable sourcing practices
  • Interest in long-term partnerships and stability
  • Need for compliance with environmental and social standards
  • Demand for transparency and traceability in supply chain
  • Opportunities for collaboration on sustainability initiatives

Cocoa Producers

  • Concerns about fair pricing and market stability
  • Need for support in adopting sustainable farming practices
  • Interest in training and capacity building
  • Desire for access to better infrastructure and resources
  • Concerns about climate change impacting cocoa yields

Other Raw Material Producers

  • Interest in sustainable sourcing of materials like sugar, packaging
  • Need for efficient resource use and waste management
  • Desire for fair trade practices and equitable pricing
  • Concern about regulatory compliance and environmental impact
  • Opportunities for innovation in sustainable materials

Financial Providers (Investors, Banks)

  • Focus on company’s sustainability performance and reporting
  • Interest in risk management related to environmental and social factors
  • Desire for transparency and accountability in governance
  • Consideration of sustainability in investment decisions
  • Opportunities for funding sustainable projects and growth initiatives

Local Communities

  • Impact of farming practices on local livelihoods
  • Access to education and healthcare facilities
  • Employment opportunities and fair labor practices
  • Environmental preservation and reduced pollution
  • Support for community development projects

Regulators and Governments

  • Compliance with environmental and social regulations
  • Enforcement of labor laws and fair trade standards
  • Incentives for sustainable business practices
  • Monitoring of supply chain transparency and ethical sourcing
  • Collaboration on sustainability initiatives and reporting standards

NGOs and Advocacy Groups

  • Promotion of fair trade and ethical sourcing
  • Monitoring of environmental and social impact
  • Advocacy for workers’ rights and elimination of child labor
  • Partnership opportunities for sustainability projects
  • Demand for transparency and accountability in reporting

Shareholders

  • Interest in long-term financial performance and sustainability
  • Demand for robust risk management strategies
  • Desire for transparent and regular sustainability reporting
  • Support for initiatives that enhance brand reputation
  • Focus on governance practices and ethical business conduct