> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # When Transparent Trade Meets Cacao With an Identity | #PSC 212 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/when-transparent-trade-meets-cacao-with-an-identity-psc-212/ - Published: 2026-06-25T20:56:46.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-17T18:50:45.000Z - Description: OVERVIEW: Episode 212 of #PodSaveChocolate takes a look at an announcement that Uncommon Cacao and Silva Cacao are “joining forces,” asking what the collab might hold for the future of transparency reporting for specialty chocolate makers. [updated] - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream 🗓️ Episode 212 streamed on Friday, June 26th, 2026\. Click a link below to view the archived episode. This ****YOUTUBE** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/11/ytlogo256x256.png)](https://youtube.com/live/h-lZt8gavys?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode! Subscribe (free!) to the [@PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@podsavechocolate/featured?ref=thechocolatelife.com), like this video, comment, and ****share** this episode to help grow the #PSC community. [Participate/Watch on YouTube ](https://youtube.com/live/h-lZt8gavys?ref=thechocolatelife.com) This ****LINKEDIN** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/LinkedInLogo.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7476009156785659905-8mTe?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on LinkedIn. Join my network on LinkedIn to receive notifications and to refer business to each other. [Participate/Watch on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7476009156785659905-8mTe?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) This ****FACEBOOK** link is shareable [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/FacebookLogo.png)](https://www.facebook.com/share/1CxBm6dsWt/) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on ****TheChocolateLife page** on Facebook (for 30 days, then watch the archive on YouTube). Follow [TheChocolateLife on Facebook ](https://fb.me/thechocolatelife?ref=thechocolatelife.com)to receive notifications and catch up on other content. [Participate/Watch on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/share/1CxBm6dsWt/) 🗓️ The ****June Member AMA call** is scheduled for Sunday, the 28th, beginning at 10:00 am MST/PDT. The link to participate can be found in the June member newsletter. --- ## **Episode 212** I spend a lot of time taking a look at transparency and sourcing reports of companies like Tony‘s Chocolonely, organizations like the ICI (International Cocoa Initiative), and reporting efforts like the Chocolate Scorecard. Following are two examples: [Examining Tony’s Open Chain: Is This a Good Use of AI? | #PodSaveChocolate Ep 126Episode 126 of #PodSaveChocolate features an exploration of using Gemini to summarize Tony’s Open Chain Report for the 2023-2024 reporting year. Is this a good use of AI? What can we learn from Gemini’s analysis? What are the limits? Is anything missing? Can Gemini be trusted? \[updated\]![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-471811a1-a341-4417-8e78-c44f50722d26.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Ep-126-Gemini-AI-SY1280x720-ceea7bb4-c4da-498a-9c59-0b89fe099bc7.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/is-this-a-good-use-of-ai-podsavechocolate-ep-126/) [ICI Says the Obvious: Disappoints Again | #PodSaveChocolate Ep 140Episode 140 takes a look at a recent report issued by the ICI - “Tackling child labour in cocoa: Results of ICI’s Member Reporting Exercise 2024.” What it says, and why this reporter is unconvinced.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-e235fcb0-cbaf-43e6-930e-d5a99fa8dbc1.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Ep-140-ICI-Report---Featured1920x1080-304e416c-0f40-4f12-95f4-40b8c41eb74e.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/ici-says-the-obvious-disappoints-again-podsavechocolate-ep-140/) But it’s been a long time – t he last time was in May, 2022 – since I took a look at what smaller companies are doing in this space. [UPDATED: TheChocolateLife :: LIVE – Deconstructing “Transparency” ReportsEpisode 39 streams LIVE worldwide from Brooklyn, NY from 12:00 EDT on Friday, May 6th.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-f66c8c2c-7f1e-492e-97d5-3163677a5e65.png)The Chocolate LifeTheChocolateWire![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/vika-strawberrika-GfzD8VEQ3P4-unsplash-FeaturedImage1920x1080-3abd2966-cff9-46a9-89ae-5bc748f5a70c.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-deconstructing-transparency-reports/) My reason for returning to this topic, now, is the recent announcement that two well-known specialty cocoa suppliers recently (April 30th) announced that they were “joining forces.” In an email sent to the US clients of Uncommon: ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/06/Silva-Cacao-X-Uncommon-Cacao---UC-Clients-USA---Signed-Large.jpeg) Since this email, there does not appear to have been any public statements about what “joining forces” means. --- ### **Transparent Trade Meets Cacao With an Identity** [Uncommon Cacao - Wholesale Specialty CacaoUncommon Cacao is leading systemic change in the global cacao market as the first Transparent Trade cacao supply chain company. We source high quality cacao for premium chocolate makers and manufacturers globally.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-32x32-c111e8c6-3555-413a-99c2-838be1014fb7.png)Uncommon Cacao![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Uncommon-Logo_vector_outlines_transparent_background_black-01-341c3efa-0d40-4770-becf-59a688470ea6.png)](https://www.uncommoncacao.com/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Want to download Uncommon’s reports? Click [here](https://www.uncommoncacao.com/pages/transparent-trade?ref=thechocolatelife.com). ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/06/0403------UncommonCacaoPricing-p72018TransparencyReport-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/06/0403-----UncommonCacao2018XparencyReportAnalysis-Large.jpeg) Uncommon has produced reports from 2013-2024 (there is no 2025 report). The format has changed every year. This is not necessarily a bad thing but it does make year-over-year comparisons much harder, if not impossible. [UncommonCacao2018XparencyReportAnalysisThe PDF of the above spreadsheet screenshot0403 – UncommonCacao2018XparencyReportAnalysis.pdf39 KBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2026/06/0403-----UncommonCacao2018XparencyReportAnalysis.pdf "Download") [Silva, your partner for sourcing cacao beans with an identityWe supply passionate chocolate makers with specialty cacao with an identity, directly sourced from its origins, while taking care of flavour, forests, farmers and the future.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-silva-180-a360bafa-4c15-495d-8d9c-8d9c0fd26bcb.png)Silva![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/DSC_8200-e1612090844934-ec1e9873-0a1d-4145-953f-5605e43deb8a.jpeg)](https://silva-cacao.com/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Want to download Silva’s reports? They don’t publish any on their website. --- ### **Additional Resources Mentioned in the Episode** **GIIRS is not currently a going concern as a standalone rating system.** The **Global Impact Investing Rating System (GIIRS)** was developed by **B Lab**, a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Development began around **2007**, though the system was formally launched in **2011**. B Lab created GIIRS as part of its broader mission to promote business as a force for good, providing investors with tools to measure and compare the social and environmental impact of companies and funds. GIIRS was **phased out between 2017–2018** when [B Lab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%5FLab?ref=thechocolatelife.com) integrated its methodology into the **B Impact Assessment (BIA)**. The BIA became the primary tool for measuring and reporting social and environmental performance, effectively replacing GIIRS. Today, **B Analytics** serves as the platform for investors to benchmark and report on impact data using the BIA framework. [ECOSHIFT | Sustainable agricultural supply chainsECOSHIFT: Ethically-sourced, traceable, impact-driven sustainable agricultural supply chains with field support, product development, and digital traceability.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/e39abc_c2ae1069dbb84de7a18f5b433aecd11d-mv2-134f44ad-62d9-4f4c-8a54-a15befcb58d4.png)ECOSHIFT![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/e39abc_c2ae1069dbb84de7a18f5b433aecd11d-mv2-34cee14d-c3fd-417b-a710-90b4296754e9.png)](https://www.ecoshift.io/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [OrijinA turnkey solution to solve EUDR for coffee & cocoa importers and producers![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/fNIvL6kvqfE4UIY2EqiDIBgrEo-d2b91a28-88e3-4603-8105-2c186c3bae96.png)![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/MS8VARp87YRzdBGAkgljpW9GlU-3ee7e9d1-9a69-4682-bec9-771ba5ad39a4.jpg)](https://orijin.io/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) --- ### **Future Episodes** 🗓️ Tuesday, June 30 Transparency in Awards programs --- ### **Episode Hashtags** #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #PodSaveChoc #PSC #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- ### **#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives** **To read an archived post** and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards below. [Pod Save Chocolate Calendar and ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. #PodSaveChocolate!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/11/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/pod-save-chocolate-calendar-and-archive/) Episodes 201-300 (links to older PSC archives are in the top nav). [#TheChocolateLifeLIVE ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/03/solen-feyissa-WG7v_wYZW4Q-unsplash-CalendarFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-calendar/) ⁉️ After a year-long+ experiment, the audio-only versions of PodSaveChocolate episodes have been taken down after an end-of-year review. There were not enough listens to continue uploading episodes and paying for hosting. --- ## Not a Member? Live The Chocolate Life – Live La Vida Cocoa! Sign up for ****Free** to comment and receive members-only content. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Premium subscriptions available. ---