Basis for preparation
The purpose of the Lindt & Sprüngli Sustainability Report is to provide an update on the Group’s progress towards its sustainability targets and commitments, as set out in the Lindt & Sprüngli Sustainability Plan, and to fulfill mandatory reporting requirements. The report is published annually and available to our stakeholders in an online and PDF format through the Lindt & Sprüngli corporate website. With the Sustainability Report 2024, Lindt & Sprüngli is reporting on its sustainability commitments and progress for the fifteenth time.
Reporting regulation and frameworks applied
Lindt & Sprüngli is obliged to publish a report to fulfill the reporting requirements regarding non-financial matters under the Swiss Code of Obligations (Swiss CO). Hence, the Lindt & Sprüngli Sustainability Report 2024 is prepared in accordance with Article 964b of the Swiss CO. The Swiss Code of Obligations Art. 964b disclosure index in the Appendix provides an overview of the material non-financial matters mentioned in Article 964b of the Swiss CO.
With regard to reporting on climate within the context of environmental matters, Lindt & Sprüngli prepared its climate disclosures based on the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), as foreseen by the Swiss Ordinance on Climate Disclosures. The disclosures can be found in the Climate chapter of this report and are referenced in the TCFD index which is part of the Swiss CO index in the Appendix.
Since 2022, the Swiss CO has required Swiss companies to comply with due diligence obligations in relation to minerals and metals from conflict-affected areas and child labor. Those obligations are further specified in the Swiss Ordinance on Due Diligence and Transparency in relation to Minerals and Metals from Conflict-Affected Areas and Child Labor (DDTrO). In 2024, our assessment of imported volumes of minerals and metals containing tin, tantalum, tungsten, or gold did not identify any relevant imports above the de minimis amounts mentioned in the DDTrO.
Therefore, no additional due diligence in relation to minerals and metals from conflict-affected areas is required in accordance with Article 964j et seq. Swiss CO. With regard to child labor, Lindt & Sprüngli is subject to due diligence requirements in accordance with Article 964j et seq. Swiss CO. The respective disclosures are available under Child labor in the Respecting human rights chapter of this report.
The Sustainability Report 2024 has been prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and contains selected disclosures from the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) (see GRI and ESRS content index in the Appendix). This represents a first step towards implementation of the reporting requirements under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
In addition, we reference the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standards for some of the disclosures (see SASB reference column in the GRI and ESRS content index in the Appendix), as well as internally developed reporting criteria (see Lindt & Sprüngli reporting criteria in the Appendix). We also share how our efforts contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and share our progress against the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in our annual Communication on Progress (CoP). Information on other voluntary standards applied can be found in the individual chapters.
Reporting period
Unless otherwise stated, all information in this report relates to the financial year 2024 (January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024), or to the reporting date of December 31, 2024. The reporting period for the Farming Program is based on the cocoa reporting year and runs from October 2023 to September 2024.
The Sustainability Report is published annually. Lindt & Sprüngli will next report on its sustainability performance for the 2025 financial year in the first quarter of 2026. The Sustainability Report 2024 is published in English only and was released on March 4, 2025.
Reporting scope
Unless otherwise stated, the scope of the information published covers the Lindt & Sprüngli Group, as in the consolidated financial reporting (see note 1 “Organization, Business Activities and Lindt & Sprüngli Group Companies” of the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report 2024). Details on the scope of key metrics can also be found in the Appendix under Lindt & Sprüngli reporting criteria. As disclosed in note 2 “Changes in the Consolidation Scope and Non-Controlling Interests” of the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report 2024, a new entity, Lindt & Sprüngli (India) Private Ltd., was founded in December 2024, with no business activities in that year. Therefore, the new entity did not impact the sustainability data disclosed in this report. There were no other changes to the consolidation scope in the 2024 financial year. The entities founded in December 2023 have been fully integrated into the consolidation scope and are fully under the Group’s operational control.
The Sustainability Report 2024 does not omit any specific piece of information corresponding to intellectual property, know-how, or the results of innovation.
The Sustainability Report 2024 has been prepared in line with the principle of materiality in terms of the issues addressed and the expectations of the various stakeholders. Lindt & Sprüngli assesses material impacts, risks, and opportunities across its entire value chain through its Double Materiality Assessment (DMA), and reports on those relevant matters in the Sustainability Report. As a production company, our value chain includes sourcing, transportation, production, retail, and consumption. Lindt & Sprüngli carried out a DMA in 2022, which was approved in 2023, and conducted an internal review and update in 2024. Applying Article 964b paragraph 1 of the Swiss CO, Lindt & Sprüngli has defined all topics that are material from an impact and financial perspective (upper right quadrant of the DMA matrix, see Our material topics in the Impact, risk, and opportunity management chapter) as Swiss CO relevant.
As part of the ongoing increase in depth and scope of information on various material topics, we have introduced new data points and metrics. Where available, we have also collected the respective data retrospectively for the previous reporting period (financial year 2023).
Data collection and methodologies
An overview of definitions and methodologies for metrics, which have been defined by Lindt & Sprüngli and disclosed in the Sustainability Report 2024, is available in the Lindt & Sprüngli reporting criteria overview, as well as in the Glossary, in the Appendix. For all GRI, ESRS, and SASB metrics, we have referred to the definitions and requirements defined in the respective standards. In case of deviations, this is indicated in the comment column of the GRI and ESRS content index in the Appendix.
Some figures have been rounded, while some percentages have been calculated on the basis of rounded numbers. Selected metrics were removed from reporting and new metrics will be designed in future years.
For Farming Program data, including Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS) data, we rely on data and reports provided by our suppliers who are responsible for implementing the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program in the field with support from Lindt & Sprüngli and/or co-funders. Should a supplier’s data quality be deemed insufficient, it may be excluded from the total figures reported externally. Additionally, metrics based on supplier data, reports or estimations may be rounded for external reporting.
Lindt & Sprüngli’s corporate carbon accounting (scopes 1, 2, and 3) follows the reporting guidelines of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and GRI 305. The Corporate Carbon Footprint Methodology of Lindt & Sprüngli can be found on our corporate website.
Estimated data
Climate and water data for 2024 (see Climate and Water in the Metrics chapter) is based on actuals for January to September, and estimates for October to December. For certain individual sub-indicators, actuals for January to August or January to July may have been used, with estimates for the remaining months. Full-year actuals will again be published in our Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Report as well as the Sustainability Report 2025, and any significant deviation will be highlighted. 2023 climate and water data reflect actuals, and as such, they differ slightly from data published in the Sustainability Report 2023 as well as the CDP Report. The CDP Report is made available on our corporate website following publication by the CDP. Based on the comparison of latest-estimate data to year-end actual data, we predict that the accuracy of our latest estimate process is around 95%.
All other data is based on full-year actuals.
As explained in the Corporate Carbon Footprint Methodology of Lindt & Sprüngli document, the calculation of our scope 3 emissions is based on secondarydata – average data and spend-based data – in line with the GHG Protocol. The use of secondary data instead of supplier-specific data might result in deviations from the actual carbon footprint.
Restatement of information
In accordance with Lindt & Sprüngli’s internal Restatement Policy, individual data points had to be restated in various areas. The explanation of the changes and the reasons for the restatements are provided as footnotes to the corresponding data points in the relevant sections of the Metrics tables (see Metrics chapter).
Where possible, revised comparative figures for previous years are published. If this is considered impractical, it is pointed out in a footnote and the reasons stated. In the case of incorrect figures, the nature of the error is explained and, to the extent practicable, the current figure and that of the equivalent period of the previous year are corrected.
Internal review and approval
The Sustainability Report 2024 was prepared by the relevant subject matter experts and the Sustainability Leadership team, reviewed by the CEO and Executive Sustainability Committee of Group Management (see Governance chapter), and approved by the Board of Directors.
Risk management principles for financial and non-financial reporting are defined in the Group’s internal Risk Management Framework. All Group-wide risks are collected and further analyzed in an internal Risk Register. The Group has established internal controls throughout the organization to ensure identification and mitigation of risks to financial and non-financial reporting.
An annual risk assessment is carried out with the aim of identifying and quantifying the risks of material misstatements in the financial and sustainability reporting. The risk assessment is based on materiality, the scale and likelihood of impacts, and the probability of errors and omissions. The main risks identified are included in the risk report to the Audit Committee alongside mitigation measures.
The Audit Committee monitors the financial and non-financial reporting process. With regard to the Sustainability Report, the Sustainability and Audit Committees assess the accuracy, completeness and compliance of sustainability-related financial and non-financial disclosures, which are subject to an audit or external limited assurance, and provide recommendations with regard to approval by the Board.
The Group is committed to ensuring the accuracy of the information published in the Sustainability Report. Selected sustainability data is subject to limited assurance by an independent audit firm. All observations made by the external auditor are addressed by action plans with the allocation of responsibilities and deadlines.
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements and illustrations contained in the Sustainability Report 2024 are forward-looking (including objectives, targets, plans, and trends). These statements can be identified by the use of the words “aim,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “outlook,” “forecast,” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends. Forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of Lindt & Sprüngli regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or developments. Further, actual results or other developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement represents the perspective from the date the statement is made only. Lindt & Sprüngli does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Lindt & Sprüngli voluntarily reports in line with the ESRS definitions of short, medium, and long-term as outlined in ESRS 1 section 6.4. Our reporting on climate risks and targets deviates from this definition (see Climate chapter).
External audit
Independent limited assurance is provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, Zurich (PwC CH), on the selected metrics outlined in the limited assurance statement, which can be found on page 143 of the PDF version of the report. Limited assurance over those metrics assured by PwC CH are marked in the report with a tick.