Vivani scoops 2024 German Sustainability Award

EcoFinia-owned German chocolate brand Vivani has been named as the 2024 recipient of the coveted German Sustainability Award in recognition of its ‘sustainable practices and heartfelt commitment to ethical business’. 

The company sees the award as an acknowledgment of ‘23 years of pioneering work’ during which it invested deeply in organic ‘before organic became mainstream’ and supported vegan ‘before vegan became cool’, never ‘making a song or dance about it’. 

With its organic chocolate brands Vivani and iChoc, EcoFinia was nominated in the Baked Goods & Confectionery category, securing the win despite fierce competition.

Andreas Meyer, founder and co-owner of EcoFinia, now steps into retirement, passing his legacy to his son, Noel Meyer. “Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who has supported us on our journey and to those who are honouring our work for a sustainable future with this award,” he comments. “I would especially like to thank my co-owner Cord Budde and the team at Weinrich chocolate factory, without whom it would not have been possible to sustainably source raw materials. The sustainability department has been extremely committed to supporting us in our activities.” 

The succession plan will see the continuation of EcoFinia’s advocacy work in the field of sustainable cocoa growing. For many years Meyer and his team have been campaigning against child labour by supporting Kindernothilfe’s child labour prevention programme in Haiti with an annual donation of €25,000, and pushing for fairer conditions in cocoa-growing regions; with the Sustainable Organic Cocoa Project the company has established its own direct trade fair cocoa project, which positively contributes to the health of the eco system in the Dominican Republic. Through the project Vivani works to improve access to clean water for cocoa farming families, and celebrates and supports women working in cocoa production.

The art of chocolate

Vivani’s mission is to create chocolate ‘as a unique work of art’. Combining artistic design with the finest ingredients — all sourced with sustainability and social responsibility at their heart — the brand has built a range over the past 23 years which is now exported to over 50 countries worldwide.

By Rosie Greenaway, editor