The change in strategy, highlighted in recent research by the NGO Global Witness, contrasts sharply with the company’s 2020 submission to the European Commission. At that time, the maker of Cadbury and Milka explicitly supported harmonized due diligence legislation. Furthermore, the company was a member of the Cocoa Coalition, a group that resisted previous attempts to postpone the law’s implementation throughout 2024.
Mondelez pivots against EU deforestation rules despite previous support
Mondelez International has intensified lobbying efforts to secure a second one-year delay for the European Union’s landmark anti-deforestation regulation. This shift marks a stark departure from the company’s earlier public stance, where it actively championed the legislation alongside other major chocolate producers as a necessary step for industry transparency.
By July 2025, however, the corporate narrative shifted. Mondelez broke ranks with industry peers like Mars and Nestlé, arguing that cocoa farmers remain unprepared for the strict compliance requirements. While the company maintains that these logistical concerns are valid, critics point to the maneuver as a tactical retreat from environmental commitments that the firm once helped shape.
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