Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 30 October 2026 · 7 sources
Nestlé's caramel-filled milk chocolate rolls and blocks.
Unsafe working conditions were documented in Rolo's supply chain in 2012, which it has only partly put right.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and clear breaches of labour conditions. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record: the most serious problem on its record (child labour, last recorded in 2023) was found by its own checks and is being fixed.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
- Checks its own supply chain. Rolo looks for problems in its own supply chain and publishes what it finds. It found child labour in 2023 and is fixing it, so it doesn't count against the grade. Another problem on its record counts against the grade: unsafe conditions in 2012. They're listed below under Confirmed issues.
Good requirements 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsA confirmed problem counts against it: unsafe conditions, last recorded in 2012
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings it isn't fixingIts own checks found child labour, which it is fixing. That's listed below and doesn't count against the grade.
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Met: Finds and fixes child labour on cocoa farms (Fairtrade, Fair for Life or its own published monitoring), and traces other high-risk ingredients where they're a major part of its range
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Clear breaches of labour conditions
| Star | Awarded for |
|---|---|
| Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communities |
Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where its cocoa is grown
Côte d'Ivoire has the largest share, 56%. Brazil is next, at 13%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Côte d'Ivoire | 56% | Regular violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Brazil | 13% | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Ecuador | 11% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Ghana | 7% | Strong protections | Well below a living wage | Low |
| Nigeria | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Cameroon | 3% | Systematic violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | 3% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Dominican Republic | 2% | Strong protections | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Passes the raw-material check for chocolate: finds and fixes child labour on cocoa farms (Fairtrade, Fair for Life or its own published monitoring).
- Reports child labour cases found and fixed
- Invests in worker and farming communities
- Modern slavery statement
Research notes Rolo blocks sold in Australia are made at Nestlé's Campbellfield factory in Victoria with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa; Rolo rolls on Australian shelves may be imported. Cocoa shares are Nestlé-wide for 2023 (Mexico, Venezuela and Peru each under 1%); 85.5% came through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan, but Nestlé names no cocoa suppliers or cooperatives. The blocks contain vegetable fats whose source is not stated.
What independent sources say
Confirmed issues 2
Only confirmed problems are listed, and old ones drop off after 10 to 15 years. A problem the company has fully put right no longer counts against it, and nor does one it finds and is fixing itself. How problems are counted
| Last recorded | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nestlé's own child labour report (2019) identified 18,283 children doing unacceptable tasks on cocoa farms supplying it in 2017/18, and its 2023 Cocoa Plan report records 12,135 children who stopped risky work that year (Swissinfo, 2019; Nestlé, 2024). Source · search the archiveFound and being fixed by the company Not counted against the grade while the company is actively fixing it, because it found and published it itself. | PartlyRuns child labour monitoring and remediation covering about 179,000 children in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana; children still need support each year. |
| 2012 | A 2012 Fair Labor Association investigation of Nestlé's Côte d'Ivoire cocoa supply chain found child labour, machete injuries making up 72% of reported injuries, harvest weeks over 60 hours and pay that rarely covered basic needs. Source · archived copy | PartlyNestlé agreed a three-phase action plan with the Fair Labor Association, including a child labour monitoring and remediation system. |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- FLA investigation of Nestlé's cocoa supply chain (Fair Labor Association, 2012) · archived copy · Child labour, machete injuries (72% of injuries), over 60-hour weeks; Nestlé three-phase action plan
- The Chocolate Scorecard (7th edition) · search the archive · Nestlé ranked 6th in the 7th edition
- Nestlé identifies over 18,000 child labourers (Swissinfo, 2019) · search the archive · Nestlé identified 18,283 children doing unacceptable tasks on supplying farms in 2017/18
- Rolo Caramel Milk Chocolate Block 170g (Woolworths) · search the archive · Sold at Woolworths; made at Nestlé's Campbellfield, Victoria factory; Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa; contains vegetable fats
Published by Rolo or its owner
- Nestlé Cocoa Plan Progress Report 2023 · search the archive · Cocoa by country 2023 (CI 55%, BR 13%, EC 11%, GH 7%, NG 5%, CM 3%, ID 3%, DO 2%); 85.5% via Cocoa Plan; CLMRS covers 178,553 children; 12,135 stopped risky work
- Modern slavery (Nestlé Australia) · search the archive · Modern Slavery Statement 2025 covering the period to 31 December 2024, plus earlier statements
- Rolo (Nestlé Australia) · search the archive · Rolo is a Nestlé Australia brand
Company details
- Owned by
- Nestlé S.A.
- Headquarters
- Switzerland
- Last researched
- 30 October 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Rolo ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/rolo, last researched 30 October 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Rolo.