A recent investigation has exposed a troubling connection between some of the world's most beloved chocolate brands and the destruction of Liberia's precious rainforests. Despite public commitments to sustainability, companies including Mars, Nestle, and Cadbury are implicated in a supply chain that fuels deforestation.
The Heart of the Matter: Deforestation in the Cocoa Belt
The report, published by the non-governmental organization Global Witness on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, reveals that between 2021 and 2024, Liberia lost approximately 250,000 hectares of forest in its primary cocoa-producing counties. This area, known as the country's "cocoa belt," is part of the Upper Guinean rainforest, the largest remaining stretch of its kind, which is home to endangered species like chimpanzees and forest elephants.
The surge in deforestation is directly linked to a boom in Liberia's cocoa exports. High global cocoa prices and crop failures in neighbouring countries have made Liberian cocoa increasingly attractive, leading to the rapid expansion of farms into forested land.
How Big Brands Are Implicated
According to Global Witness, the problem lies in an opaque supply chain. Cocoa exporters operating in Liberia rely heavily on local rural traders who buy beans indiscriminately, including those grown on recently deforested land. The report accuses major corporations of mixing a small amount of traceable, certified cocoa with large quantities of untraceable beans.
This practice allows them to benefit from sustainability certification programs while their products likely contain cocoa linked to forest destruction. Corporate giants implicated in the research include Hershey, Mondelez (maker of Cadbury), Nestle, Unilever, and Mars.
"Big brands are buying untraceable bulk cocoa that hides a massive deforestation footprint," stated Charlie Hammans, an investigator with Global Witness.
Broader Implications and the EU Response
The findings come at a critical time, as the European Union Parliament is set to vote on potentially delaying a landmark law designed to combat deforestation. This law would require companies selling in Europe to prove that products like chocolate are fully traceable and free from deforestation. The proposed delay would push the rollout to the end of 2026.
While cocoa is a primary driver, the report also notes that small-scale agriculture, mining, palm oil, and rubber production are significant contributors to the ongoing forest loss in Liberia. The investigation was based on an analysis of customs data for all Liberian cocoa exports by cargo ship over three years, combined with tree cover loss data from Bong, Nimba, and Lofa Counties.
