The Swiss non-governmental organisation Coalition for Corporate Responsibility has raised serious allegations against the well-known chocolate manufacturer Lindt and Sprüngli. The organisation accuses the company of using toxic pesticides on plantations in Ghana that are banned in the European Union and Switzerland.
According to the initiative, the situation is aggravated by the fact that plantations affected are also part of the so-called Lindt and Sprüngli Farming Program, which is considered a core element of the company’s sustainability strategy. According to the investigation, active substances such as imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and mancozeb are being used. The Pesticide Action Network classifies these substances as highly hazardous and links them to nerve damage, infertility and developmental disorders in children.
Based on information from the coalition, affected farmers report acute symptoms such as skin irritation, shortness of breath and burning eyes. Protective clothing is usually lacking, as it is scarcely available locally and too expensive for many. The organisation considers it particularly alarming that the use of these pesticides is said to have been part of training sessions within the Lindt and Sprüngli Farming Program. Although these active substances are banned in Europe and Switzerland, the manufacturing companies reportedly do not regard these bans as grounds for export bans to Africa.
When asked how the use of highly toxic pesticides within its sustainability programme aligns with the principle of responsible sourcing, Lindt and Sprüngli responded as follows: A review of compliance with the pesticide list is an important requirement that must be ensured by suppliers. However, this pesticide list is not publicly accessible.
The organisations involved view the investigation as an example of structural problems within global supply chains. Voluntary sustainability programmes alone have been proven insufficient to reliably protect people and the environment from pesticides. The supply chain law, which has been weakened in the European Parliament with German support, does not provide protection against such irresponsible practices.