The cocoa sector faces growing regulatory expectations and increasing demands for transparency and consistency. WCF supports the sector by developing shared tools, methodologies and data frameworks that enable credible compliance and strengthen confidence across markets.
WCF develops sector-wide tools that support consistent approaches to due diligence, reporting and sustainability measurement. These shared frameworks help align definitions, indicators and methodologies across markets, improving data quality and supporting clear, workable implementation of regulatory requirements. Our work focuses on enabling consistency across producing and consuming countries so that sustainability expectations can be applied in a transparent and comparable way.
Consistency is essential to credibility. By strengthening alignment across data, measurement and reporting systems, WCF helps ensure sustainability claims are grounded in comparable, verifiable evidence. This shared foundation supports better decision-making and builds trust with regulators, partners and the public.
Our standardised approach to assessing deforestation risk supports companies in meeting the requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation. Developed with Satelligence, the European Cocoa Association and the European Forest Institute, the methodology improves traceability and provides a consistent, science-based foundation for risk mitigation.
This sector-wide framework provides a harmonised approach to measuring cocoa-farming household income and identifying barriers to economic resilience. By aligning definitions and data collection methods, it supports more accurate analysis and helps companies, NGOs and policymakers design interventions grounded in comparable evidence.
WCF has developed the first cocoa-specific greenhouse gas accounting standard. The framework enables companies to measure emissions consistently across their supply chains and align with international expectations, including the Science Based Targets initiative.
WCF actively supports sector-wide progress through critical impact initiatives developed in partnership with governments and other stakeholders. These initiatives strengthen alignment, support effective implementation and help ensure that shared frameworks translate into measurable outcomes.
Effective impact measurement requires consistent, credible data across companies and countries. WCF is strengthening the sector’s monitoring and evaluation systems through shared indicators, harmonised methodologies and a Theory of Change that reflects global sustainability priorities. This work includes updated measurement approaches for initiatives such as the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, supporting greater alignment, accuracy and transparency
Our global traceability framework connects company systems with national databases to create consistent, verifiable data across markets. It supports compliance with emerging regulations, strengthens transparency and reinforces the credibility of sustainability claims made by the sector.
