Kim’s Chocolates has been recognised as a Sustainable Development Goals SDG Champion through the Voka Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and the associated SDG programme.
Sustainability is integrated into our business through measurable actions covering energy, water, production, sourcing, packaging and employee well-being.
Each year, since 2015, our progress is assessed through the Chamber of Commerce VCDO framework and reported through the relevant programme and certification channels.
This recognition marks an important milestone in our long-term sustainability journey. Read below how we have been making chocolate bars in a responsible manner.
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A long-term, verified commitment to sustainability
Since 2007, we have made sustainability part of how we operate, long before going green became trendy. For that time, we built a highly energy-efficient chocolate factory. Since then, we have continued to raise our ambitions:
- 2010 – Launch of Cocoa for Schools, supporting education in cocoa-growing communities
- 2015 – Integration of the UN Sustainable Development Goals into our strategy*
- 2018 – Co-founder of Beyond Chocolate, the sector’s partnership to end deforestation, stimulate education and provide a living income for cocoa growers
- 2020 – Recognized as an SDG Pioneer, Voka Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship
- 2025 – SDG Champion, recognized for CO₂ Reduction
*In 2015, we built a concrete action plan linked to the United Nations’s 5 Ps of sustainability: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships, validated annually by the Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Entrepreneurship Charter (VCDO) committee. This was the start of our sustainability trajectory. That external check on results, not promises, sets us apart from many chocolate manufacturers in Belgium and abroad.
Watch the interview with CEO Marc Quirijnen "How Kim's Chocolates makes a difference with sustainable entrepreneurship": https://youtu.be/ctoMI6cQnpE?si=sFwCw29tjdk2kDR0
We take our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) responsibility seriously: measurable reductions, transparent reporting, and continuous improvement. We’re not perfect, we’re just on our way to do better tomorrow.
From SDG Pioneer to SDG Champion
After being recognized as an SDG Pioneer in 2020, our new “Champion” status confirms the next level of dedication: turning long-term strategy into verified, measurable impact.
Our key achievements so far:
- CO₂ reduction: Since 2006, we’ve cut a total of 7,895 tons of CO₂ by using our 4000 solar panels. In 2024 alone, we reduced 63 tons of direct (Scope 1) CO₂ equivalents compared to the year before, and achieved our target of zero emissions for Scope 2 (our own energy use).
- Science-Based Targets: we have set climate targets that are validated by SBTi — aiming for net zero by 2050 for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Read our science-based targets listed on the SBTi website https://sciencebasedtargets.org/target-dashboard search on company Kim’s Chocolates. Good news, our Scope 1 reductions are ahead of schedule to achieve the 42% reduction in line with SBTi targets for 2030.
- Certified cocoa sourcing: All our cocoa is sourced through established certification and sustainability programmes, including Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, Organic and Cocoa Horizons, depending on the product.
We also work with our sourcing partners on traceability and responsible cocoa sourcing.
- Circular packaging: All our packaging is recyclable, using FSC-certified paper and single-material foils to make recycling straightforward.
- Efficient production: Our bio-fermentation water treatment removes 90% of nutrients from wastewater; new washing machines have reduced freshwater use by 20%.
- Partnership for progress: As a founding member of Beyond Chocolate, we work with industry peers, NGOs, and researchers to ensure fair incomes for farmers and to fight deforestation and child labour.
Sustainability in action: our VCDO 2025 plan
Our current VCDO action plan includes 16 measurable initiatives; each tied to a specific SDG and verified annually. A few highlights:
- 100% certified cocoa and ingredients (SDG 12, 8, 13, 15)
- Water reduction in production and transport (SDG 6)
- Employee training & lean production (SDG 4)
- Improved recycling and packaging materials (SDG 12)
- Safe and healthy workplace programs (SDG 3)
- Next-generation cooling systems & CO₂ reduction (SDG 13)
Why this matters for our partners
For retailers and brands looking for a reliable, sustainable chocolate supplier, Kim’s Chocolates offers transparency, accountability, and proven results — not promises.
Our sustainability claims are externally verified, data-driven, and rooted in long-term practice, giving our partners the confidence that every chocolate we produce contributes to a fairer, cleaner supply chain.
Kim’s Chocolates
Sustainable. Belgian. Authentic.
20 years of doing good, now officially Sustainable Development Goals Champion
Contact our team to learn how we integrate sustainability into every chocolate we make.
