Coffee and cocoa packaging often features labels promising social improvements for producers, ecological standards, and biodiversity protection.

A team from the University of Göttingen has examined the cocoa sector in Ghana, the world's second-largest cocoa producer, analyzing the background of labels such as Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance. As part of their research, the team surveyed more than 800 families who earn their livelihood from cocoa farming and assessed biodiversity on around 120 plantations.

The study found that sustainability certificates do indeed benefit small-scale producers by improving yields and increasing income. However, biodiversity on the plantations remained unchanged. Since biodiversity develops over longer periods, it may take time for positive effects to become visible. The researchers suggest that additional measures to enhance biodiversity should be incorporated into the requirements for sustainability certification.