The company that makes Clif Bars hopes to have 80% of its ingredients USDA organic and certified sustainable by 2015.

A new partnership between Clif Bar & Co. and Rainforest Alliance promises to help bring Clif Bar & Co. closer to that goal — and the company claims it’s the first energy bar maker to take such a step.

Clif Bar & Co. also says it plans to have 100% of it cocoa ingredients for Clif Bar sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.

The company is partnering with the Rainforest Alliance to source certified cocoa for Clif Bar energy bars, its flagship product. Clif Bar & Co. has purchased more than 250 million pounds of organic ingredients since 2002.

“It is estimated that only 1% of the world’s cocoa is organic, which makes the need for additional sustainable sources of cocoa even greater,” says Kevin Cleary, president and coo of Clif Bar & Company. “By sourcing cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, not only are we expanding our work beyond organic, but we are contributing to fair treatment of labor.” 

Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa farms support a healthy environment, promote the well-being of workers and their communities and adopt more efficient farming practices. Certified farms curb deforestation, conserve soil and water, reduce waste and minimize use of agrochemicals. Also, farm workers benefit from safe working conditions, just wages and access to education for their children.

“Major food companies can play a key role in helping to transform our global marketplace into a more sustainable model, one that promotes better lands, lives and livelihoods,” says Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. “By sourcing cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, Clif Bar & Co. is directly benefiting the lives of cocoa farming communities and helping to conserve natural resources for future generations.”

A total of 15 Clif Bar flavors will include certified cocoa and nine different cocoa-based ingredients will come from cocoa beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Clif Bar energy bars carrying the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal on the package will be available to consumers in 2013.

For more information about the Rainforest Alliance, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org. For more information about Clif Bar & Co. visit www.clifbar.com.

— M.K.