In a continued effort towards long-term environmental sustainability, family-owned Guittard Chocolate Company, the 150-plus year-old San Francisco-based chocolate maker, has developed new packaging that is made up of 24% post-consumer recycled materials. The addition of the PCR to Guittard’s line of flexible film-packaged products not only maintains the integrity of the bag and the product’s shelf life, but also significantly reduces the use of virgin plastic.

As part of its Cultivate Better™ platform, the company dedicates itself to honorable sourcing, expert crafting, industry leadership, environmental initiatives, and long-term sustainability both at home and in the cacao-growing countries in which it works.

“As a multigenerational family-owned business, we understand the importance of improving our output and reducing our environmental impact while maintaining the quality that our customers have come to expect,” explained Gary Guittard, chief executive officer and fourth generation of Guittard Chocolate Company. “Not only are these choices important for the future of our business, employees and product, but they’re the right thing to do for the health of our collective future.”

The PCR packaging was first introduced with the launch of Santé, Guittard’s new coconut sugar-sweetened chocolate. According to a third-party analysis, the use of PCR saved around 16,000 kg of virgin plastic, equal to the plastic from nearly 270,000 one-gallon milk bottles.  

In addition, Guittard’s new Organic Natural powder combines a high percentage of cocoa butter fat with flavor-forward organic beans for a cocoa that delivers new possibilities in baking as well as drinking. Guittard Organic Natural cocoa powder retails for an SRP of $9.99 and is available online at guittard.com as well as independent and natural grocers beginning this spring.

The natural processing of the beans (non-dutch-processed), along with the high cocoa butter content leads to a cocoa powder that is lighter in color and retains the original flavor-forward complexity of the organic beans for nuanced and exciting flavor delivery in baking and drinking applications. When used in baking, it creates bright and expressive flavors, and the absence of dutching allows the chocolate flavors to truly stand out. 

Joining its other cocoa powder products, Cocoa Rouge and Grand Cacao, Guittard’s Organic Natural cocoa powder is the first to be Organic and both high cocoa butter content and non-dutched. Cocoa that is not dutch-processed is referred to as ‘natural cocoa’ in the industry and brings bright chocolate flavor and lighter colors to baking and drinking applications. While most recipes will not specify dutched or natural cocoa in their instructions, the Organic Natural’s high cocoa butter content enhances texture and flavor in baking projects like brownies, cookies, and cakes or enjoyed as a beverage in recipes where a more natural, mild chocolate flavor and creamy, rich texture is preferred.

“We’re thrilled to welcome this high-fat Organic Natural cocoa powder to our line of Guittard products,” said Guittard. “We always strive to deliver new and innovative options to our customers—to provide them with chocolate that suits a variety of needs in both flavor and application. This latest addition to our line of cocoa powders opens an avenue of possibilities we’re excited to see our users explore.”

The commitment to using post-consumer recycled materials joins a continuum of efforts that Guittard has implemented to meet long-term sustainability goals. In addition to PCR, Guittard has also:

• Added solar panels to its Fairfield facility, offsetting 50% of the facility’s energy demand while saving 1,217 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year
• Begun a significant reduction of waste to landfills by working with local companies to upcycle used burlap cocoa bean sacks. This effort will reduce the waste to landfills by approximately 25%. Guittard is also working with recycling partners to meet Zero Waste goals
• Engaged in the process of installing a new water chiller system that will save water as well as energy with the goal of reducing water usage 50% by 2025