Behind the Scenes at Orfève
In a world where certifications are multiplying, it can be difficult to distinguish a truly ethical approach from a mere marketing argument.
At Orfève, we believe that ethical chocolate is not defined by a label. It is built every day through the concrete choices we make, from bean to bar.
Ethics Can’t Just Be Printed, It Must Be Proven
Some certifications have value, especially for large-scale retail.
But they also have their limits:
– They don’t always guarantee a fair price for producers,
– They too often allow mass-market practices like “mass balance”,
– They don’t cover the entire value chain.
We’ve chosen another path. Less visible, perhaps, but more demanding.
A Direct-Relationship Approach
At Orfève, we work with committed cooperatives and partners.
We select our beans based on rigorous criteria:
– aromatic quality
– traceable origin
– sustainable farming practices
– respect for the producers
We favor long-term relationships, entirely outside speculative logic.
The price we pay for our beans is always significantly higher than global commodity rates.
A Committed Manufacture
Ethics don’t stop at the farm.
In our Geneva-based manufacture, we’ve made strong structural choices:
– No allergenic ingredients, to ensure accessibility for all
– Zero additives, zero flavorings, zero lecithin
– Local, short-supply-chain production with no outsourcing
Every bar is crafted in-house, with deep respect for the raw material, and for people.
The Orfève Commitment
We don’t claim to be perfect.
But we believe that ethical chocolate must be coherent at every stage.
Not just organic. Not just fair trade. But fair.
For the earth. For those who cultivate it.
And for those who taste it, with confidence.