The Green Co-nversation #17 | March 2026

It's Hannah here, and I'm excited to be taking over Edition #17 of The Green Co-nversation. Thank you for joining. 😀
 
With Easter round the corner, who better to chat to than the wonderful team at Divine Chocolate. They share the unique story behind their delicious chocolate, including how cocoa farmers in Ghana helped launch and co own the company itself. You'll want to stay tuned.

Our joint giveaway winner is announced, and I'll be sharing some tips from my recent travelling throughout New Zealand. ✈️

A Conversation With Divine

Divine Chocolate is proudly farmer co-owned, which is incredibly unique. Can you tell us how the Kuapa Kokoo farmers came to launch their own chocolate company, and why that model still matters today?

 
In 1998, members of Kuapa Kokoo voted to launch their own UK chocolate company to earn more from their cocoa and challenge the traditional industry model. That business became Divine Chocolate.
 
The co-ownership model still matters because farmers are not just suppliers but shareholders. They receive a guaranteed Fairtrade price and premium, plus a share of profits, creating greater income stability and community investment. Crucially, with board representation, they have a real voice in the company and the wider cocoa industry - a rare and powerful seat at the table.

Your bean-to-bar approach is central to your mission. Why is traceability so important, and how does knowing exactly where your cocoa comes from make a difference to both farmers and chocolate lovers?

Our bean-to-bar approach means every bar’s cocoa can be traced back to the exact co-operative that grew it, showcasing the care and skill farmers put into every bean. That traceability guarantees quality and ethical sourcing, reinforces long-term relationships with growers, and lets consumers understand the real journey behind their chocolate. It builds trust, supports fairness and transparency in the supply chain, and connects chocolate lovers with the farmers who make great chocolate possible - making every bar more meaningful for both producers and buyers.

Fairness sits at the heart of Divine. Beyond paying Fairtrade prices, how do you support cocoa farming communities in Ghana?

Beyond paying Fairtrade prices, Divine Chocolate supports Kuapa Kokoo communities through targeted development programmes. We fund adult literacy and numeracy classes that help farmers, especially women, read, count and run better businesses - boosting confidence and household incomes. We also support formal tenancy agreements to protect farmers and tenant workers, and partner with Vision Spring to provide eye-care screenings and glasses - improving workers’ ability to farm and increasing earnings. These initiatives strengthen communities, empower individuals and drive lasting change on the ground in Ghana.

You’ve made big sustainability commitments. How do these choices reflect your wider vision of “doing business differently”?

Our sustainability choices reflect a commitment to doing business differently - prioritising people and the planet over profit. We never use palm oil, avoid ingredients linked to deforestation and biodiversity loss, and focus on natural, high-quality ingredients instead. Our packaging is fully recyclable, and orders are dispatched from a carbon-negative warehouse, reducing environmental impact across the value chain. These choices show that ethical sourcing, environmental responsibility, and great chocolate can go hand in hand - reinforcing our mission to create positive change for communities and the climate as part of everything we do.

In 2025, you brought your story to UK screens with a TV advert featuring real Kuapa Kokoo farmers. What did that moment mean for Divine and the farming communities behind the brand?

The TV advert was a huge moment for us and the brand. As a team of only 6 people, we are small but mighty and winning the Channel 4 / B Corp competition and the associated TV and media package enabled us to put our message, products and people in front of an audience of millions. Co-ordinating a video shoot across the UK and Ghana with limited budget, time and resources was a huge but very exciting challenge. We are really proud of what we were able to create and believe it showcases the best of Divine – our people (from the farmers through to our HQ team who are also featured!), our delicious Made to Matter chocolate and our mission to end exploitation in the cocoa industry.

A Huge Thank You to Divine! 

 Feeling inspired and want to try their delicious range of chocolate, dessert bars and hot chocolate? As part of B Corp month, Divine are offering 10% off everything online* with code BCORP26.

*valid on all products until 23:59 on 31st March 2026. One use per customer.

👉 Shop 10% off Divine with code BCORP26

A Conversation With The Green Co. Crew

I've been fortunate enough to spend the last three weeks travelling around New Zealand and had the best time! Whether I was walking along the coastline, exploring lakes or heading out on hiking trails, nature is never very far away.

I was travelling with just a couple of small bags, so packing space was definitely limited! With lots of time outdoors, clothes got dirty fast. Of course I packed my Laundry Detergent GreenSheets™ Sample Packs…what a lifesaver! They’re so slim and lightweight but still have plenty of cleaning power! They were perfect for quick sink washes after a long day exploring.

New Zealand is known for its incredible natural landscapes, and travelling through some of the most stunning places on the planet really reminds you how important it is to look after the environment. Around 30% of the country is protected national parks or conservation land, so protecting nature is a big part of everyday life!

One of the highlights of the trip was seeing Mt Cook (Aoraki), New Zealand’s highest mountain. Standing there surrounded by glaciers and lakes really makes you appreciate places like this even more.

Have you taken your GreenSheets™ on your travels? We’d love to know how far around the world they’ve travelled! Maybe they’ve been packed for beach trips, camping weekends or big adventures abroad. If you’re travelling with your GreenSheets™ this year, we’d love to see where they end up. Tag us on Instagram or send your photos to hello@thegreencompany.online and show us your adventures!

👉 Tag us in your GreenSheets™ adventures on Instagram.

Giveaway Winner Announced

A massive congratulations to our giveaway winner, Katie P., who has won over £100 worth of goodies from our joint Instagram giveaway with Salt of The Earth. 

Want the chance of being our next giveaway winner? Make sure to follow us on Instagram and keep your eyes peeled for our next competition!

That's A Wrap

Thank you so much for tuning in to Edition #17 of The Green Co-nversation. I’ve loved reflecting on my recent travels and chatting all things chocolate with the wonderful team at Divine. I hope you enjoyed this month’s conversation as much as I have.

Next month we’ll be celebrating Earth Day with another brilliant brand, think cosy foods that are perfect for a quick lunch on busy days. We’ll also be sharing a few more stories from life inside The Green Co.

All the best, 

Hannah