At seahorse, we care deeply about how chocolate gets made.
Here's our commitment to ethical, sustainable chocolate.
Chocolate has a long history of inequality and exploitation, and that legacy still shapes the industry today.
Cacao passes through many hands before it becomes chocolate, and along the way, it’s not always clear how it was grown, who was involved, or how it was traded.
We believe better chocolate is possible, and that making it means treating people and ecosystems with care, while being transparent about how it’s sourced. That’s the path we’re on.
Our path forward
We’re a small team with big goals, and we’re always learning how to do better. For us, sustainable chocolate isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about making thoughtful decisions, staying accountable, and growing over time.
Sharing the practices and partnerships that move us forward is an ongoing process, and we want to bring our community along. If you’re curious how we work, and where we’re headed, join our newsletter. It’s the best way to follow our progress, and meet the people we work with around the world.
Care starts at the source.
our sourcing
Rooted in relationship
For us, sourcing cacao begins with people. Every origin and every partnership is different. We build long-term, trusting relationships that allow us to grow alongside the producers and communities we work with.
SEAHORSE CHOCOLATE IS
BIRD FRIENDLY®
bird friendly® cacao
Where ecosystems thrive, cacao does too.
One way we live our sourcing values is through Bird Friendly® certified cacao. Developed by Smithsonian scientists and grounded in decades of ecological research, this certification ensures farms are organic, deforestation-free, and rich in bird habitat through diverse shade trees or protected forest areas.
Farmers who meet these standards gain access to premium markets that value biodiversity. By purchasing Bird Friendly cacao, we support these growers and help fund the research and conservation behind the program.
We source Bird Friendly beans from Zorzal in the Dominican Republic, which we craft into our 70%, 100%, and Dark Milk bars.
GIVING BACK
In 2026, we joined 1% for the Planet to put our values into action. We donate one percent of our annual sales to organizations protecting biodiversity and building climate resilience in cocoa-growing regions, supporting the people and ecosystems doing vital work on the ground.
Through this commitment, we’re investing in the future of cocoa and the landscapes that make great chocolate possible. We’ll share more about the projects we support in our newsletter.
Cacao can play an important role in climate and biodiversity solutions. When grown in diverse agroforestry systems, it helps support healthy ecosystems, store carbon, retain water, and protect soil, while providing a meaningful livelihood for smallholder farmers. These working landscapes are essential to global conservation efforts.
