Concept Chocolate certified ShiftingPact®: a step, not an end goal
At Concept Chocolate chocolatier, craftsmanship and sustainability have always gone hand in hand, even if we have not always taken the time to formalize or measure it. We are happy and proud to announce that we have just obtained ShiftingPact® certification, the benchmark label for Belgian SMEs committed to a social and environmental transition. But let us say this from the outset: this certification is not an end goal, it is a starting point.
What is ShiftingPact®?
ShiftingPact® is a certification designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses that want to place sustainability at the heart of their operations. It assesses the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of certified companies while highlighting their public transparency. With more than 150 companies already certified and more than 30 currently in the certification process, ShiftingPact® is establishing itself as a serious benchmark for Belgian SMEs in transition.
Our score: 57, level "Sustainable" — with plenty of room for improvement
At the end of our audit, Concept Chocolate received a ShiftingPact® score of 57 out of 100, placing us at the "Sustainable" level according to the label's maturity scale (which distinguishes between companies "In transition," "Sustainable," and "Inspiring"). This score is exactly the average of certified ShiftingPact® companies — neither more nor less. We prefer to see it as an honest snapshot of our current situation rather than a medal: there is still a long way to go.
This score breaks down into three pillars:
On the environmental side, we achieved a score of 73, the highest of our three pillars. On the social side, our score reaches 60. On governance, our score stands at 41 — an area where we still have a great deal to learn and structure over the next two years.
A mission rooted in heritage preservation
The ShiftingPact® audit highlighted Concept Chocolate's contribution to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our company mission is above all aligned with SDG 11.4, dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage: by perpetuating Belgian artisanal chocolate-making know-how through our production, our shop, and our events, we actively contribute to safeguarding Brussels' intangible heritage and promoting it among Belgian and international visitors.
Our activity also contributes to several other goals: responsible cocoa sourcing that supports fairer supply chains, educational workshops that raise awareness among children and adults alike about the origin of chocolate, a sustainable tourism approach reinforced by our Green Key certification, and production made mostly to order, which limits food waste.
Our commitments for 2026-2028
ShiftingPact® certification does not only reward our current practices: it also commits us to the future. By June 2028, we have formally committed to implementing about fifteen concrete actions, including raising our team's awareness of good energy practices and responsible water management, putting in place a responsible purchasing policy favoring recycled or renewable raw materials, strengthening our internal governance procedures with an ethical code of conduct shared with the entire team, and regularly monitoring the satisfaction of our employees.
If we keep all of these commitments, our ShiftingPact® score should reach 62 at the time of certification renewal. A modest improvement on paper, but one that represents, for us, real groundwork over two years.
This is only the beginning
For our customers, partners, and visitors, this certification is a guarantee of transparency: it confirms that our sustainability commitments are not just words, but practices independently assessed and monitored over time, with a semiannual review of our progress by the certifying body.
We do not claim to be a model company or to have all the answers. This certification simply puts words and numbers to a path we have been following since taking over the workshop in 2011, alongside our Gault&Millau and Green Key certifications. There is still much to build, especially in our governance, and we are approaching the next two years with as much humility as motivation. Continuing to make good chocolate, while doing a little better each year: that is all we wish for ourselves.
To learn more about ShiftingPact® certification and view our profile, visit shiftingpact.be.
