Concept Chocolate Certified ShiftingPact®: A Step, Not a Destination
At Concept Chocolate, craftsmanship and sustainability have always gone hand-in-hand, though we haven't 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 social and environmental transition. But let's be clear from the outset: this certification is not a destination; it's a starting point.
What is ShiftingPact®?
ShiftingPact® is a certification designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that wish to integrate sustainability into the core of their activities. It evaluates the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of certified companies, while promoting their public transparency. With over 150 companies already certified and more than 30 in the process of certification, ShiftingPact® is establishing itself as a serious benchmark for Belgian SMEs in transition.
Our score: 57, "Sustainable" level — with plenty of room for improvement
At the end of our audit, Concept Chocolate obtained a ShiftingPact® score of 57 out of 100, which places us at the "Sustainable" level according to the label's maturity scale (which distinguishes companies as "In transition," "Sustainable," and "Inspiring"). This score is exactly the average for ShiftingPact® certified companies — no more, no 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 is broken down into three pillars:
Environmentally, we scored 73, the highest of our three pillars. Socially, our score reached 60. In terms of governance, our score was 41 — an area where we still have much 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 corporate mission is primarily aligned with SDG 11.4, dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage: by perpetuating Belgian artisanal chocolate expertise through our production, our shop, and our activities, we actively participate in safeguarding an intangible Brussels heritage and promoting it to Belgian and international visitors.
Our activity also contributes to several other objectives: responsible cocoa sourcing that supports more equitable supply chains, educational workshops that raise awareness among all ages about the origin of chocolate, a sustainable tourism approach reinforced by our Green Key certification, and production predominantly made to order, which limits food waste.
Our commitments for 2026-2028
The ShiftingPact® certification not only rewards our current practices but also commits us to the future. By June 2028, we have formally committed to implementing about fifteen concrete actions, including raising awareness among our team about good energy practices and responsible water management, implementing a responsible purchasing policy prioritizing 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 meet all of these commitments, our ShiftingPact® score should reach 62 when the certification is renewed. A modest progression on paper, but for us, it represents significant groundwork over two years.
This is just the beginning
For our customers, partners, and visitors, this certification is a guarantee of transparency: it confirms that our sustainability commitments are not just empty words, but practices independently evaluated and monitored over time, with a semi-annual review of our progress by the certifying body.
We do not claim to be an exemplary company or to have all the answers. This certification simply puts words and figures 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 concerning our governance, and we approach the next two years with as much humility as motivation. To continue making good chocolate, 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.
