Sustainability | Social
Our employees:
the heart of our company
Our employees are essential to our company. Our staff policies include rules on employment, working conditions, and professional development opportunities during an employee’s entire tenure with the company. Among other things, this includes measures to create a safe working environment, as well as further development courses and qualification programs.
Training and further development
Ludwig Schokolade offers traineeship programs and further development courses. Qualification programs and development opportunities allow employees to expand their personal and professional skills.
Health and corporate culture
Occupational health and safety and occupational health care for our employees are part of our human resources measures. Our company principles and internal policies include guidelines on respectful communication, openness, and equal opportunities.
Human rights and social standards
Ludwig Schokolade uses risk analysis, monitoring, and other tools to review human rights risks and labor-related issues within the scope of our own business and our supply chain. To help us monitor processes at our production sites and identify areas for action, we undergo regular social audits in accordance with the SMETA standard* (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) and participate in the EcoVadis assessment process. In 2026, the EcoVadis assessment resulted in a silver medal for Ludwig Schokolade. The assessment covers management systems in the areas of the environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement Learn more.
* Audit procedures for working conditions, the environment, and business ethics in companies and their supply chains.
Participation in industry initiatives
Ludwig Schokolade participates in discussions and exchanges on social criteria and human rights-related issues as a member of the Forum Nachhaltiger Kakao e. V. (German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa) and the Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI). We also support social standards by sourcing some of our cocoa from Fairtrade– and Rainforest-Alliance Certified supply chains (2025; 64 %1, 2).
1 Percentage breakdown of certified cocoa: 25% Fairtrade, 75% Rainforest Alliance.
2 The mass balance method allows certified and noncertified raw materials to be mixed throughout the supply chain. It ensures that the amount of certified raw materials used corresponds to the amount purchased.
Principles for our supply chains
Ludwig Schokolade is a member of the KRÜGER GROUP, meaning that a number of Group-wide policies apply at the company. These policies are also relevant to the company’s cooperation with suppliers. The policies include the Code of Conduct, the Declaration of Principles on Human and Environmental Rights, and an Ethics Policy. Among other things, they include requirements on compliance, human rights, working conditions, equal treatment, occupational health and safety, and social dialogue.
2025 Sustainability Report
You can download the latest KRÜGER GROUP Sustainability Report (2025) here.
2025 Sustainability Report (PDF)
