Haigh's Chocolates
Partly verifiedHaigh's Chocolates raises serious concerns: workers in the countries chocolate & cocoa usually comes from, such as Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana are very unlikely to earn a living wage, and unions and workers' rights are heavily restricted in the countries chocolate & cocoa usually comes from, such as Ecuador and Cameroon, with no independent audits.
Last researched 7 October 2026
Not doing enough. Workers in the supply chain are likely underpaid, unprotected or in danger, and in the worst cases face forced or child labour. Look for a better-graded alternative. What this grade means
Good: 2 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: 0 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: 2
- Does not pay a living wage
- Hidden or unaudited supply chain (no certification or documentation, or major production in countries with poor worker rights without independent audits)
Where it's made: not disclosed
Showing where chocolate & cocoa products are usually made instead.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Côte d'Ivoire 45% | Regular violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Ghana 25% | Some protections | Well below a living wage | Low |
| Ecuador 10% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Cameroon 10% | Systematic violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Nigeria 5% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
| Indonesia 5% | Systematic violations | 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
- An estimated 1.5 million children work on cocoa farms in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, and most cocoa farmers earn well below a living income. (partly offset by certification or direct sourcing)
- Rainforest Alliance: Audited farm standard with no minimum price; weaker on wages than Fairtrade.
- Owns or runs its own production
Haigh's is a family-owned Adelaide company that makes its chocolate from the bean in its own South Australian factory, with about 80% of its cocoa coming from Rainforest Alliance certified farms and a stated aim of reaching 100%. It names Ghana and Peru among its cocoa origins and is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation and the International Cocoa Initiative, but it does not publish the share of cocoa from each country, its cocoa suppliers, farm-level traceability, child labour monitoring results or any living income commitment. Ghana's cocoa is on the US Department of Labor list of goods made with child labour.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Scorecard | Unclear | Haigh's does not appear in published coverage of the 2024 and 2025 Chocolate Scorecard's Australian results; no rating for it was found. View ↗ |
| Fairtrade (incl. FLOCERT and Fairtrade ANZ) | Not listed | Haigh's uses Rainforest Alliance rather than Fairtrade certification for its cocoa. View ↗ |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Unclear | No modern slavery statement from Haigh's was found on the Australian Modern Slavery Register. View ↗ |
| US Department of Labor goods lists | Found | Cocoa from Ghana is listed for child labour and cocoa from Cote d'Ivoire for child and forced labour; Haigh's names Ghana as a cocoa origin. View ↗ |
Sources (10)
- Ethical Chocolate Making - Haigh's Chocolates · archived copy · 80% of cocoa from Rainforest Alliance certified farms; aim of 100% within two to three years; cocoa from regions including Ghana and Peru; no supplier, traceability or child labour monitoring details
- Community Responsibilities - Haigh's Chocolates · archived copy · Imports cocoa from South America, Africa and the Pacific; member of the World Cocoa Foundation and International Cocoa Initiative
- Haigh's Chocolates - Rainforest Alliance certified product listing · archived copy · Haigh's chocolate is listed with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa
- Haigh's Chocolates - Wikipedia · archived copy · Family owned, Adelaide headquarters, about 900 employees, own Salisbury South factory opened 2025, Vanuatu single-origin cocoa partnership
- Egg-onomics: SA chocolate icon hops to Easter amid national growth - InDaily · archived copy · More than 900 employees; manufacturing at its own Salisbury South facility
- Striving for ethical chocolate - The Southern Cross · archived copy · 2022 report that 80% of cocoa comes from Rainforest Alliance certified farms
- Haigh's Chocolates - Ethical Consumer Guide (ethical.org.au) · archived copy · At least 80% Rainforest Alliance cocoa; World Cocoa Foundation member
- List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor - US Department of Labor · archived copy · Cocoa from Ghana listed for child labour; cocoa from Cote d'Ivoire listed for child and forced labour
- Here's who topped the rankings in this year's scorecard for sustainable chocolate - University of Wollongong · archived copy · 2025 Chocolate Scorecard coverage of Australian companies does not mention Haigh's
- Annual chocolate scorecard reveals the dark side to your delightful Easter treat - University of Wollongong · archived copy · 2024 Chocolate Scorecard coverage of Australian companies does not mention Haigh's
Last researched 7 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.