We’re Serious About Sustainability

At Taza Chocolate, we do our part to craft a product that is environmentally sustainable. We strive to be green every day and in everything that we do. Here’s how:

Recycling

We reuse packaging materials wherever possible, and recycle anything that’s left over. All of our corrugated shipping boxes, paper collateral, and displays are completely recyclable. We lease a printer and print only what we need. Most of our packaging supplies we use are made with 20% – 100% post-consumer recycled materials. We recycle glass, plastic, metal, and paper in both our office and factory.

Sustainable Agriculture & Direct Trade

Our supply chain is simple: direct from the farm to us to you. We don’t believe in using intermediary brokers! And because our beans come from Latin America and the Caribbean, instead of Africa or Indonesia, our food miles are kept in check.

Direct relationships with our growers bring us the highest quality ingredients while ensuring fair wages and work practices on the farm. All of our ingredients are certified organic; many are also biodynamically grown. These growing methods leave behind a minimal carbon footprint.

Energy Efficiency

We do our best to operate an energy efficient chocolate factory. Energy-saving compact florescent bulbs are used throughout. Some of the machines we employ require a fair amount of power. We run these machines only when necessary – otherwise they stay off at all times. Our roaster uses clean-burning natural gas to roast the beans by convection. It is so efficient that even at peak usage, our gas bill rarely exceeds $40 / month.

Green Partners

We work with a number of local organizations in an effort to keep our community green. We have collaborated with GoGreen Somerville on developing our operational sustainability strategy. We have worked hard at achieving zero percent waste in our operations, and all of the byproducts of the production process can be recycled, reused, or composted. We donate most of our organic cacao shells to Groundwork Somerville for use as mulch. Some also go to Eva Sommaripa of Eva’s Organic Garden.

Human-Powered Delivery

Taza Chocolate is committed to reducing consumption of non-renewable resources. As a company full of cycling enthusiasts, we’re glad to provide the option of bike delivery to retail customers in Cambridge and Somerville.

For bike delivery to wholesale customers in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston, we’ve partnered with Metro Pedal Power. MetroPed provides eco-friendly pick-up and delivery services for local businesses, organizations and universities.

Finally, factory pick-up is available for local customers at no charge. We hate the idea of shipping a package to someone who could walk here and pick it up. Boston winters notwithstanding.