SUSTAINABILITY
More sustainable cocoa: The heart of VAICACAO
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💚 At VAICACAO, we firmly believe that every choice can truly make a difference and that every action, no matter how small, can lead to a positive mindset shift. Sustainability is not just a principle, but the foundation of our project, which embraces both the environment and the people we work with. From cocoa cultivation at our Finca Cuyancúa plantation in El Salvador to our commitment to minimal-impact primary production here in Sardinia, every stage of our small, integrated supply chain is guided by a profound respect for the planet and for those of us who inhabit it.
Agroforestry Cocoa: An Ally for the Climate Crisis
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🌳 Cocoa can be grown in two ways: one that respects nature and one that compromises it. This precious tree, native to Central and South America, thrives in its natural habitat, where it coexists with majestic trees such as cedars, conacastas, mahogany, and ceibas. As with every aspect of life and agriculture, it's up to us to decide which path to take.
🤝 For over 7 years, we have been working with cocoa varieties that represent a concrete ally in the fight against the climate crisis. On our Finca Cuyancúa (El Salvador, Central America) and the other microplantations from which we source ( discover them here ), cocoa grows in harmony with a regenerative agroforestry system. Here, cocoa trees live side by side with native tropical forest species, helping to restore biodiversity, improve soil fertility, and sustainably manage water resources.
This practice goes beyond simple cultivation: it recreates living ecosystems that regenerate nature and protect the planet. We reduce erosion, increase the soil's capacity to store carbon, and reduce waste. Every cacao tree planted is a step toward a more sustainable future, a concrete gesture to nourish and honor the earth.
Choosing cocoa grown this way means contributing to a virtuous cycle that sustains life. Because change begins with the land.
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🌫️ Carbon sequestration: Cocoa agroforestry systems can sequester significant amounts of carbon. For example, one study found that such systems can store up to 60 tons of carbon per hectare, contributing to climate change mitigation.
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🐝 Biodiversity: It is well established that integrating cocoa with other tree species promotes biodiversity, creating habitats for various species and improving ecosystem resilience.
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💧 Water Consumption: Although cocoa requires a significant amount of water, agroforestry systems can improve water efficiency thanks to the diverse plant cover that reduces evaporation and improves soil water retention. In the agroforestry systems where the cocoa we work grow, drip irrigation systems have been adopted to improve water management, leading to significant water savings and providing the trees with the nutrients they need to cope with the high temperatures during the dry season, which runs from approximately December to June. With climate change, these seasons are shifting, bringing greater heat and heavier but less frequent rainfall, making water management a top priority.
Sardinia: Where Sustainable Supply Chain Meets Green Technology
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🗺️ Our commitment to sustainability continues even once the cocoa is ready to be shared with you. All our machines are energy class AB, helping to reduce energy consumption. Half of our electricity grid is powered by clean solar and wind energy. Furthermore, thanks to our e-commerce platform, which uses servers powered by 100% clean, carbon-free energy, we are committed to offsetting shipping emissions through the efforts of the "Planet" program, which invests in reforestation projects and other environmental initiatives around the world. Furthermore, we carefully recycle every material and give production scraps a second life, transforming them into resources rather than waste.
Responsible Packaging: Zero Plastic, Only Recycled Paper
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♲ Each of our products is carefully hand-packaged in minimalist packaging, primarily made from FSC-certified, responsibly managed forest paper, Aticelca-certified for recycling into ceremonial cocoa paper. The packaging is more fragile than plastic, but if we can even minimally reduce our use of plastic, that's the path we want to take. The chocolates are packaged in aluminum foil, recyclable in aluminum, in 100% recycled paper cases, also certified by the Nautilus brand.
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📦 Every VAICACAO shipment is wrapped in recycled paper, designed to minimize environmental impact and ensure the beauty of the cocoa arrives intact, without harming the environment even more. You certainly won't receive styrofoam, plastic, or bubble wrap in our shipments.
A Concrete and Continuous Commitment
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🌈 For us, "sustainability" also means daily action and conscious choices. With humility, we are aware ə that achieving zero impact is still a work in progress. However, our commitment remains firm: we have no intention of worsening the situation or replicating the methods of the unsustainable chocolate industry, the same industry that has fueled the exponential growth of cocoa monoculture plantations and contributed to unprecedented deforestation, without regard for the economic and social sustainability of the people who work the cocoa, men and women, often exploited and underpaid, without insurance protection, earning detrimental wages that no one would consider dignified. We are and intend to remain an alternative project, where every step aims for positive and regenerative change for the planet, but also for ourselves and our conscience.