Alter Eco
VerifiedAlter Eco is on the right track: Fair for Life certification covers wages and conditions across its supply chain, and it says it buys directly from producers at agreed prices. What's missing is publishing where its products are made.
Last researched 8 October 2026
Heading in the right direction. Workers are paid enough to live on, or the company is certified as working towards it, and there are no serious warning signs. One piece is still unproven. What this grade means
Good: 4 of 5
- Pays a living wage
- Respects worker rights
- Full supply chain audit, or made only in countries with rigorous labour standards
- No child or forced labour findings
- Publishes where its products are made (supplier list, named farms or its own factories)
Great: 1 of 3
- Pays beyond a living wage
- Finds and fixes problems, or invests directly in workers' communities
- Actively empowers workers
Needs all Good requirements plus two of these.
Red flags: 0
None found.
Where it's made
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peru 50% | Regular violations | Well below a living wage | Low |
| Ecuador 50% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Country conditions from the ITUC Global Rights Index, Global Slavery Index and living wage benchmarks. Certifications and audits can raise a company above its countries' baseline.
Why this grade
- Fair for Life: Fair trade certification covering the whole supply chain, including hired workers.
- Certified B Corp: Whole-company assessment. Labour is one part of the score, so it is supportive rather than proof.
- Certified organic: Organic certification has no labour criteria beyond basics.
- Direct trade (self-reported)
- Invests in worker and farming communities
- Top tier on the Chocolate Scorecard
Alter Eco sells organic chocolate made in Switzerland by Chocolats Halba from cacao grown by smallholder cooperatives in Peru (including ACOPAGRO), Ecuador (including Fortaleza del Valle) and the Dominican Republic. Its products carry Fair for Life certification, it is a B Corp with a score of 157.1, and it ranked second on the 2022 Chocolate Scorecard, though it does not appear in the latest edition's rankings. It does not publish a full supplier list, current prices paid to farmers or volumes by country; its last published price figure (2018) was 56% above the Fair Trade minimum price for cacao. Since December 2023 it has been owned by the Texas investment firm Trek One Capital.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| B Corp directory | Found | Certified B Corp since January 2009 with an overall score of 157.1. View ↗ |
| Fairtrade (incl. FLOCERT and Fairtrade ANZ) | Not listed | Alter Eco's current products carry Fair for Life certification rather than the Fairtrade mark. View ↗ |
| Chocolate Scorecard | Found | Ranked second on the 2022 Chocolate Scorecard with top marks in all six categories; not among the companies ranked in the latest edition, where its manufacturer HALBA ranks first. View ↗ |
| US Department of Labor goods lists | Not listed | Cocoa from Peru and Ecuador is not on the US Department of Labor's child or forced labour goods list. View ↗ |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Unclear | No Australian modern slavery statement from Alter Eco was identified; its revenue is likely below the reporting threshold. View ↗ |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Unclear | No UK modern slavery statement from Alter Eco was identified; its revenue is likely below the reporting threshold. View ↗ |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No allegations involving Alter Eco were identified. View ↗ |
Sources (12)
- Nosh – Organic chocolatier Alter Eco announces acquisition by Trek One Capital · archived copy · Trek One Capital acquired Alter Eco from NextWorld Evergreen in a deal closed December 2023; HQ moved to Houston, Texas.
- B Corp directory – Alter Eco LLC · archived copy · Certified B Corp since January 2009; overall score 157.1; Workers 29.2; Community 48.4 (Supply Chain Poverty Alleviation 27.6); HQ Texas.
- Alter Eco – Sustainability & Regeneration Report · archived copy · Renewed B Corp certification in 2025 with its highest score, 157.1; publishes annual sustainability reports.
- Alter Eco – 2025 Regeneration Report · archived copy · 598 farmer partners in regenerative agriculture; its Swiss manufacturing partner ranked first on the 2026 Chocolate Scorecard.
- The Chocolate Life – Review: AlterEco (Dec 2024) · archived copy · Products made by Chocolats Halba in Switzerland; packaging carries Fair for Life, B Corp and USDA Organic; owned by Trek One Capital.
- Regenerative Insights – Conversation with Keith Bearden, CEO of Alter Eco · archived copy · Smallholder farmer network spans Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Peru; Fair for Life certification ensures farmer premiums.
- Alter Eco – Impact report 2018: invest in farmers · archived copy · Sources cacao from the ACOPAGRO cooperative in Peru; negotiates directly with farmers and paid 56% above the Fair Trade minimum price; $180,528 in Fair Trade premiums in 2018 funding community project
- Fair Trade Campaigns – Trip report: Fair Trade impact in Ecuador (2017) · archived copy · Fortaleza del Valle cooperative cacao from Calceta, Ecuador is used in Alter Eco bars.
- Wikipedia – Alter Eco · archived copy · Chocolate manufactured in Switzerland; B Corp since 2009; ranked second on the 2022 Chocolate Scorecard.
- Sierra – We taste-tested the 4 most ethical chocolate bars (2022) · archived copy · Chocolate Scorecard rated Alter Eco a close second, with top marks in all six categories.
- Chocolate Scorecard · archived copy · 7th edition ranking lists HALBA first; Alter Eco is not among the ranked companies.
- US DOL – List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor (cocoa) · archived copy · Peru and Ecuador are not listed for cocoa.
Last researched 8 October 2026 · details still being verified. Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Represent this company and think something is wrong? A right-of-reply form is coming soon.