31st July 2023
Today we have published version 5.2 of the Bonsucro Production Standard, which will come into effect on 2 December 2023. It builds upon version 5.1 of the Production Standard, improving and clarifying some indicators.
Revising version 5.1
In January 2022, version 5.1 of the Bonsucro Production Standard was launched. This version of the standard was developed through a multi-stakeholder consultation process, which aimed to align the standard to emerging best practices for sustainability and to regulatory changes impacting the sugarcane sector.
New standards are revised once they have been practically applied in the field, to address any weaknesses, concerns, or implementation gaps discovered. We started the revision of version 5.1 in August 2022 by gathering feedback from our members, including through targeted consultations with sugarcane producers and companies audited against version 5.1. Feedback was also provided by Bonsucro’s governance bodies.
Changes made in version 5.2
Version 5.2 has been updated to improve its wording and language, and to clarify some of the indicators and their scope. These changes will make it easier for operators to know what is expected of them and for auditors to verify that they are meeting the requirements of the Standard.
One of the main changes is in indicator 1.1.1, which now requests a Sustainability Management Plan. It gathers the plans, risk assessments and monitoring systems, developed by operators, to implement good environmental, social and managerial practices that support sustainable sugarcane production. The Sustainability Management Plan provides operators with a framework for continuous improvement, key to any sustainable farming system.
A new type of indicator, “Aspirational” has been introduced requiring prevailing wages to be benchmarked against the relevant living wage. It recognises that operators are at different stages of their sustainability journey, and that additional guidance is needed to help companies implement this requirement. Compliance with this indicator will be voluntary.
For our environmental indicators, we have also updated the relevant indicators to clarify both natural ecosystems and HCV areas are protected from conversion to any form of agriculture from 31 December 2020. Sugarcane grown on such land cannot be certified. This prevents operators from temporarily converting land to other crops before subsequently using it for sugarcane.
Another indicator that has been changed concerns maximising the efficiency of agrochemicals applied during the production of sugarcane. It now allows operators to follow their own Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan with respect to the responsible use of agrochemicals, based on the needs and advice from the experts, rather than from limiting applications to a set amount of active ingredient per hectare per year. Recommendations on the IPM plan must be made by an expert and follow the instructions of the agrochemical manufacturers. We also have an expanded list of banned chemicals that certified operators cannot use due to their negative impact on the environment and health.
A list of changes in the new Standard can be found here.
Transition Policy
Bonsucro is working on an updated version of the Transition Policy which specifies the rules that must be followed to move from the implementation and certification of versions 4.2 and 5.1, to implement and be certified against version 5.2 of the Bonsucro Production Standard. It will be published at the end of August 2023.
Translations, implementation guidance and training
To ensure that the Standard is accessible to all our members, version 5.2 will be translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and Thai. The translations, along with the implementation guidance (in English) that accompanies the Standard, will be published at the end of August. At the end of September, we will publish the translations of the Implementation Guidance. We are also working on the Bonsucro Calculator to ensure that it is aligned with version 5.2 of the Production Standard.
Online training events and webinars will be offered for operators, consultants, certification bodies and training providers, to ensure that all Bonsucro stakeholders are up-to-speed on the changes when version 5.2 comes into effect on 2 December 2023.
In developing this new version of the Bonsucro Production Standard, we have listened to our members and incorporated their feedback. It clarifies and improves some of the indicators from version 5.1, and supports operators to move along their sustainability journey.
Download the new Production Standard here, and visit this page to download all the supporting materials.
