Shifting Cocoa Farming From Exploitation to Regeneration

In this episode, host Christopher Marquis is joined by Douglas Lamont, CEO of Tony’s Chocolonely, the Dutch chocolate company born when journalists exposed widespread child labour in West Africa’s cocoa fields and set out to prove a fairer model was possible. Douglas breaks down how Tony’s rebuilt its supply chain around five core sourcing principles—paying a living-income price, long-term contracts, full traceability, strong farmer cooperatives, and improved farming practices—and how these have dramatically reduced child-labour risks, lifted farmers out of poverty, and cut incentives for deforestation. The episode also dives into Tony’s Open Chain Initiative, which invites other brands to adopt the same ethical sourcing model in pursuit of a 5% market share tipping point for industry-wide change. Douglas discusses Tony’s mission-lock structure, the UK’s Better Business Act, and how stronger company law and bold leadership can shift businesses from extractive to regenerative models.

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