Tony's Chocolonely partnered with South Pole to estimate carbon removals and build local capacity in West Africa. Through a phased approach of monitoring protocol design and capacity building, we turned ambitious climate commitments into measurable impact for a resilient cocoa supply chain.
To meet SBTi standards, Tony's needed to quantify carbon removals from agroforestry in West Africa. This required a two-fold approach: developing a rigorous monitoring and sampling protocol, and providing field-tested training to cooperatives to ensure the accurate carbon sequestration measurement.
cocoa cooperatives trained across Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire
shade trees predicted to be planted by 2030.
farmers impacted by improved data protocols.
We implemented a two-phased approach for Tony's Chocolonely, first designing a bespoke removals monitoring and sampling protocol, then training West African cooperatives to secure precise data.
Tony’s Chocolonely is committed to reducing its carbon footprint, utilising shade tree planting to sequester carbon within its supply chain. However, counting these efforts towards SBTi goals requires precision. In this initial phase, South Pole’s experts reviewed Tony's existing data points against the strict criteria of the GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Standard. To help them calculate and monitor their carbon stock effectively, we developed a bespoke monitoring and sampling protocol. This foundational framework provides the materials and methodology Tony’s needs to accurately calculate their baseline and carbon removals into the future. Furthermore, our modelling methodology ensures these sustainability efforts are credible, measurable, and integrated into Tony’s 5 Sourcing Principles.
Establishing a removal baseline in cocoa production requires precise primary data. By training three cooperatives across Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, we established reliable data collection protocols under real-world conditions. We deployed a field campaign to establish sample plots and provide hands-on training for local cooperatives. By creating a verifiable data validation framework, we ensured local teams could independently maintain monitoring systems, providing the clarity required for a successful low-carbon transition.
South Pole's expertise helped us build a solid, science‑aligned protocol for estimating and monitoring carbon removals in our first insetting pilot.
It strengthens the integrity of our insetting approach and sets us up for continued improvement.
Chris Oskam Head of Sustainability, Tony's Chocolonely
Connect with South Pole today to accurately quantify carbon removals in your supply chain and build robust monitoring protocols that drive credible, measurable impact.
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