A Sweet Year in Review: How Alter Eco Made an Impact in 2025

Let's be honest. 2024 threw the chocolate industry a curveball the size of a cacao pod. With prices skyrocketing over 300% and climate change making headlines alongside every weather forecast, the entire confectionery world found itself at a crossroads. But here at Alter Eco? We didn't just weather the storm. We doubled down on our mission, rolled up our sleeves, and proved that doing business the right way isn't just possible, it's delicious.

So grab your favorite truffle, settle in, and let's take a sweet stroll through everything we accomplished in 2025.

When Life Gives You Cacao Price Hikes, Make Better Chocolate

If the past year taught us anything, it's that the old ways of doing business are literally costing us the planet. While some companies pulled back on sustainability commitments, we pushed harder. When things got tough, we chose to continue to stay focused on improving the planet one chocolate bar at a time.

Our CEO, Keith Bearden put it perfectly: "We're improving the planet one chocolate bar at a time!" And in 2025, we delivered on that promise.

The Media Fell in Love (And We're Blushing)

This year, some seriously impressive publications took notice of what we're doing. Let's just say our PR team had a very good year, and we're not above bragging about it.

Real Simple Called Us "Feel-Good Food"

In November, Real Simple featured our dark chocolate in their roundup of mood-boosting foods, highlighting research that shows individuals consuming the highest amounts of dark chocolate showed significantly lower odds of experiencing depressive symptoms. The article emphasized our organic credentials and the importance of choosing chocolate with at least 85% cacao content, exactly where our Classic Blackout bar shines. 

Translation: eating our chocolate might actually make you happier, and there's legitimate science backing it up.

The Critics Gave Us Some Love

We were honored to be nominated for the Nosh Best of 2025 Awards, a program that recognizes companies "driving meaningful impact through innovation, quality, thoughtful sourcing, and category leadership." Standing alongside some incredible brands who are reimagining familiar categories and championing responsible business practices felt like validation from the people who really understand what we're doing. 

Fair Trade Champions Took Notice

The Good Trade featured us as their #1 pick in their carefully curated list of 11 fair trade chocolate companies for conscious consumers. Their editors specifically highlighted that we're "Best For: Truffle lovers, eco-friendly practices" and praised how our truffles are crafted with coconut oil instead of palm kernel oil—"little bundles of yummy decadent joy" that are good for both people and planet. They recognized our commitment to planting thousands of trees in our supply chains and recognized the strength of our certifications. Being ranked first among conscious chocolate brands? That's the kind of recognition that makes all the hard work worth it.

Gift Guide Stardom

From Today's Parent to food columnists around the country, our products landed on multiple holiday gift guides this season. 

Culinary columnist Darragh Doiron featured our truffle Advent Calendar in The Orange Leader, calling it perfect for hostess gifts and "an extra drizzle of luxury" among holiday gift sets. 

The Mommy Factor blog dedicated an entire post to our Organic Truffles Advent Calendar, and The Chic Chef by Ali Rutnik gave us top billing in her curated culinary gift guide, noting that our truffles are "a must" and raving about our Truffle Thins being "to die for." She even mentioned using our Total Blackout 100% cacao bars to make the viral date bark that's been taking over social media. There's something deeply satisfying about knowing our chocolate is making holiday countdowns and viral recipes a little more delicious.

Innovation That Actually Matters

While we're proud of the press coverage, what really gets us excited are the tangible changes we're making.

Our Truffle Advent Calendar Launch

Twenty-four organic dark chocolate truffles in four fan-favorite flavors (Sea Salt, Salted Caramel, Classic Dark, and Silk Velvet), all wrapped in plant-based compostable wrappers inside a 100% recyclable paper box. It's like a chocolate advent calendar, but make it sustainable.

The response? It sold out faster than we expected and became a favorite across social media.

Expanding the Flavor Universe & Growing Our Reach

We introduced new bars that pushed our creative boundaries while expanding distribution to reach more conscious consumers. And in a full-circle moment, we partnered with Kourtney K's Poosh for Camp Poosh 2025 at Coachella, creating a custom s'mores cart featuring our Classic Blackout, Burnt Caramel, and Sea Salt bars paired with cookies and vegan marshmallows. The response from the audience on their Instagram stories was incredible —proof that when people discover truly delicious, sustainable chocolate, they can't help but share it.

The Packaging Revolution Continues

Remember when compostable chocolate wrappers seemed impossible? We've been perfecting them since the early days, and our truffle wrappers are genuinely backyard compostable—not just "industrial facility only." Watching our packaging return to the earth instead of ending up in a landfill is one of our proudest achievements.

The Numbers Don't Lie: Our 2025 Impact

Let's talk data, because sometimes cold hard facts tell the most inspiring story.

B-Corp Re-Certification: We achieved our highest B-Corp score ever - 157.1 points - reaffirming our commitment to rigorous social and environmental standards.

Regenerative Agriculture Progress: Currently, 75% of our cacao beans from Ecuador come from dynamic agroforestry. We invested in a new project with our manufacturer and planted 10 hectares this year in the Dominican Republic, with commitments to expand regenerative practices. We're working with 573 farmers who have been transitioning their farms to regenerative practices, improving soil health while building climate resilience across our supply chains. Our ultimate goal? To source 100% of our cacao beans and oats from regenerative farms.

Climate Label Certified: We didn't just offset our emissions—we invested in conservation and reforestation projects within our own supply chains. Thousands of trees have been planted, and real ecosystems have been restored.

Plastic Neutral Certified: We maintained our plastic neutrality throughout 2025 while actively working to reduce plastic use altogether. For every pound of plastic we use, we invest in initiatives that remove an equivalent amount from the environment.

Fair Trade at Scale: We partner with small-scale cacao farming cooperatives where family-owned farms are the norm. These are real families, not industrial operations, earning fair wages and working in safe conditions. Dynamic agroforestry initiatives, and the cultivation of fruit trees and other crops alongside cacao, help contribute further to food security for farmers.

What "Delicious First" Really Means

Here is the truth: Sustainability is meaningless if the chocolate isn’t worthy of a second bite.  Years ago, when a marketing director asked Keith (our CEO) to describe Alter Eco in one word, he chose delicious. That single word has guided us ever since.

Not organic. Not sustainable. Not even climate-positive (though we are all those things). Delicious.

Because here's the reality: people don't buy chocolate to save the planet. They buy it because it tastes incredible. The planet-saving part? That's the bonus that keeps them coming back. This philosophy guided everything we did in 2025, from product development to how we communicate our mission.

The Community That Makes It All Possible

None of this happens without you, the conscious consumers who choose to spend a little more for chocolate that aligns with your values. Every bar you bought, every truffle you savored contributed to a supply chain that prioritizes people and planet over profit margins.

To all the influencers, creators, reviewers, and chocolate lovers who shared your Alter Eco moments: We saw them, we loved them, and you helped amplify our mission in ways we will never forget.

Looking Ahead: The Work Continues

As we wrap up 2025, we're more committed than ever to our three core principles:

1. Restoring Ecosystems through regenerative agriculture that improves soil health and biodiversity

2. Improving Livelihoods by ensuring fair wages and empowering farming communities

3. Reducing Waste with innovative packaging and circular supply chain practices

The journey isn't over. Climate change continues to challenge us, and the chocolate industry has a long road ahead. But every year, we get a little closer to proving that ethical business isn't just possible—it's profitable, sustainable, and most importantly, delicious.

Join the Movement in 2026

As we head into a new year, we invite you to be part of our mission. Here's how:

Shop Consciously: Choose products that align with your values. Read labels. Ask questions. Demand better from the brands you support.

Compost Those Wrappers: Got a backyard compost? Toss in our truffle wrappers and watch them disappear (okay, it takes a few weeks, but still pretty cool).

Spread the Word: Share your favorite Alter Eco products with friends. Tag us on social media. Write reviews. User-generated content is our favorite kind of marketing.

Stay Curious: Visit our website to read our annual Regeneration Report, learn about our farming partners, and dive deep into what makes truly sustainable chocolate.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter: Be the first to know about new flavors, sustainability milestones, and special offers for our most loyal fans.

A Final Thought

In a year when many companies retreated from their environmental commitments, we leaned in harder. When cacao prices soared, we protected our farmers' livelihoods instead of cutting corners. When the easy path beckoned, we chose the right path.

Because at Alter Eco, we believe chocolate should be both delicious and a force for good. One does not cancel out the other.

Thank you for making 2025 such a sweet success. Here's to an even more impactful 2026.

Now go grab a truffle. You've earned it.

Want to learn more about our sustainability journey? Check out our full Regeneration Report and continue the cycle of change with every bite you enjoy.