Bonsucro's New Production Standard Strengthens Sustainability in Sugarcane
January 17, 2022 /3BL Media/ - Today, Bonsucro, the leading global sustainability platform for sugarcane, has published its revised Production Standard with new requirements to address critical global risks such as greenhouse gas emissions, water, biodiversity, and respect for workers’ rights in the sugarcane sector.
The Bonsucro Production Standard is the most globally recognised framework for sustainable sugarcane production. It is a comprehensive, metric tool that enables farmers and millers to improve and certify their practices as sustainable – and offers buyers assurance when sourcing sugarcane and its derivatives.
Certification data demonstrates that Bonsucro certified sugarcane producers consistently reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and water use, whilst increasing crop yields and creating safer working conditions. The Standard demands that producers respect human rights. It also has zero tolerance of child or forced labour on sugarcane farms and mills.
Bonsucro members represent 27% of sugarcane producers and 20% of sugar buyers, including some of the world’s biggest consumer brands.
Last year, sales of certified sugar increased to 1.83 million tonnes – a 71% increase compared to the previous year.
Bonsucro is committed to continuous improvement and, in line with the ISEAL Codes of Good Practice, updates its Standards every five years.
The new Standard is available today and comes into force from September 2022.
Danielle Morley, CEO of Bonsucro said, “Our new Production Standard builds on ten years of success and learning. We have improved it to address pressing sustainability issues such as deforestation, water use and living wages. I’m proud of the changes we’ve made to the Standard and confident it will drive notable positive impact in sugarcane production.”
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For more information contact
Liz Foggitt
Communications and Events Manager
liz@bonsucro.com
About Bonsucro
Bonsucro is the global sustainability platform for sugarcane, one of the world’s most important crops. Its purpose is to collectively accelerate the sustainable production and uses of sugarcane - for farmers, millers, buyers, and end users. It convenes its members and other partners to address critical challenges in the sugarcane sector, and drive performance and impact through its system of sustainability standards for sugarcane.
Bonsucro works across all sugarcane products and derivatives – sugar, ethanol, molasses, and bagasse. It also works across both traditional and newer market sectors, from sugar and alcohol to biofuels and bioplastics.
Bonsucro manages a community of more than 280 members in over 50 countries from across the sugarcane supply chain, representing 27% of production and 20% of buyers – from farmers and millers to traders and end users.
Bonsucro is ISEAL Code Compliant. Its system has been independently evaluated against ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice– a globally-recognised framework for effective, credible sustainability systems. More information is available at www.isealalliance.org.
