12th June 2023
It has been more than a year since the latest version of the Bonsucro Production Standard (BPS) for sustainable sugarcane – version 5.1 – was launched (January 2022), and more than six months since it was rolled out (September 2022). We are pleased to see the first few Bonsucro members become certified against the new Standard.
11 farmers associated with Associação dos Fornecedores de Cana de Guariba (SOCICANA) receive their certifications against version 5.1 of the Bonsucro Production Standard
Certification against v5.1 is happening around the globe
The BPS v5.1 is a progressive standard that addresses critical global issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, water, biodiversity, and respect for workers’ rights in the sugarcane sector.
Across three continents – Africa, Latin America, and Asia, 21 companies have successfully complied with the new requirements and achieved certification:
- Agroazucar Ecuador S.A. – Ecuador
- Associação dos Fornecedores de Cana de Guariba (SOCICANA) – Brazil
- Baba Farid Sugar Mills Limited – Pakistan
- Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd, – Rauzagaon Mill – India
- Cocal Comércio Indústria Canaã Açúcar e Álcool Ltda – Narandiba – Brazil
- Cocal Comércio Indústria Canaã Açúcar e Álcool Ltda – Unidade Paraguaçu Paulista – Brazil
- Dalmia Bharat Sugar – India
- Delta Sucroenergia S/A – Unidade Delta – Brazil
- Delta Sucroenergia S/A – Unidade Volta Grande – Brazil
- Jalles Machado S.A. (Unidade Jalles Machado) – Brazil
- Jalles Machado S.A. (Unidade Otávio Lage) – Brazil
- Moema Bioenergia S.A. – Brazil
- Raizen Energia S.A. – Unidade Morro Agudo – Brazil
- Rhum J.M – Héritiers Crassous de Médeuil – Martinique
- S/A Usina Coruripe Açúcar e Álcool – Filial Campo Florido – Brazil
- Sonora Estancia S/A – Brazil
- Thanh Thanh Cong – Bien Hoa JSC – Vietnam
- Usina Barralcool S.A. – Brazil
- Usina Vale do Tijuco – Brazil
- Vale do Pontal Açúcar e Etanol LTDA – Brazil
- Vijayanagar Sugar Private Limited – India
It has been great to see companies implement the new requirements and reflect on the value of taking their sustainable practices further.
For instance, one of the non-core indicators of the BPS v5.1 requires at least 15% of women in management and skilled positions. This is a brand-new indicator, and we’re pleased to see some of our certified members making plans to move towards it. For example, Baba Farid Sugar Mills (BFSM) has achieved certification against version 5.1 of the Standard and in a measure towards continuous improvement is planning to address gender balance in the future. Shahzad Amjad Shahzad, Head of Sustainability & Compliance at BFSM said, “Meeting the gender balance requirement of the standard is an important step towards achieving social sustainability,”
New revision of the Bonsucro Production Standard v5.1
After listening to some of our members’ concerns about implementing the BPS v5.1, we are conducting an interim revision. While we complete this process, we have extended the validity of the previous version – 4.2 – until 1 December 2023.
This means that both BPS v4.2 and v5.1 can be used for certification audits that begin until that date. Operators are encouraged to implement, be audited and be certified against the latest version.
The interim revision of v5.1 will result in the upcoming v5.2, which will be published in July and come into force on 2 December.
You can learn more about the interim revision process here.
Do you need support with the transition?
We look forward to seeing more Bonsucro members become certified against the BPS v5.1 and can support you in this journey.
Technical training videos about the BPS v5.1 and its key changes are available on our YouTube channel in:
Our Standards and Assurance team is ready to provide further assistance and address any inquiries related to the transition between the two standards. You can email us at: standards@bonsucro.com.
