Clean + Conscious Awards 2024. Best Chocolate. Celebrating products in Australia & NZ which are Non-Toxic, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible.

Living Koko – Koko Duo Dark Chocolate

GOLD + EDITOR'S CHOICE

Best Chocolate 2024

$5.30

This 70% dark chocolate bar with cacao nibs from Samoa is allergy safe and low in sugar. Sourced from small farms, it offers a rich flavour and texture contrast.

Clean Ingredients / Materials

Made from excellent, clean ingredients.

Ethical Practices

Living Koko is a Female and Veteran owned business based in Ravenhall, Victoria Australia, that is Pono slave free certified. Their families have been cultivating cacao and exporting for over 200 years in the Pacific Islands. Living Koko's choice of ingredients is intentional, as they do not add any extra cacao butter or vegetable oils to let the quality of the bean speak for itself. They provide employment to mums from migrant backgrounds returning to the workforce and support fair ethical trade in both Australia and the Pacific Islands. Additionally, Living Koko supports Regenerate Farming, employment, livelihood improvement and agricultural tours in the Pacific Islands, while also practicing 100% locally-produced manufacturing and providing opportunities for CALD community members and women returning to work.

Sustainable Practices

Living Koko is a zero waste office and their manufacturing space is powered by green solar energy. They recycle packaging from suppliers, shred unnecessary paperwork for packaging and reuse all byproducts of cacao to eliminate waste. Their sustainability efforts extend to their farmers, ensuring fair prices to maintain healthy, chemical-free land. They also implement eco-friendly packaging practices to minimise environmental impact, such as using foil to preserve the shelf life of their chocolates. Additionally, they repurpose cacao skin for tea and create a chocolate body scrub, showcasing their commitment to sustainability throughout their operations.

Social Impact

Living Koko embraces social responsibility by supporting and educating youth on Regenerative Farming, creating employment opportunities in the Pacific, improving livelihoods and importing ingredients from small domestic plot farmers in Samoa, Tonga, Niue and Tahiti. They also host agricultural tours to showcase ethical and indigenous cultivation methods in Samoa. In Australia, they employ individuals from the CALD community, support women returning to work, sponsor Global First Nations businesses and community events, mentor migrant-owned businesses, provide work placement opportunities and host business start-up workshops.

Expert Reviews

Magdalena Roze

I love the clean, rich and nutty taste of this small batch quality chocolate. The brands commitment to working with indigenous communities and sustainable farming makes this a product and brand worth supporting. The brand’s commitment to working with and empowering indigenous communities, ecologically sound methods of farming and sustainability is very impressive and a big point of difference.

Mia Cowling

Oh please let me eat this every day – loved it. Creamy yet deeply chocolatey, sweet packaging and left me wanting more! Great mouth feel and a perfect sweet hit. I am impressed by the brand’s strong focus on ethical and social sustainability. An admirable commitment from the team.