In the month of March 2022, the Bonsucro certification system promoted training on the technical parameters of the Standard Bonsucro Production version 5.1 of your publication.
Bonsucro understands that learning and development are fundamental for an organization to develop in terms of sustainability / ESG. Thus, Bonsucro encourages its members and practitioners to participate in training on sustainability in sugarcane farming.
The Bonsucro Production Standard applies worldwide to any sugarcane mill and its supply area that wishes to sell Bonsucro certified sugarcane products and make related claims.. The standard evaluates the result of practices implemented at the mill and farm level.
The training provided contains 7 modules covering the different sections of the Bonsucro Production Standard v 5.1. These training materials cover everything from the basics of the Bonsucro Standards to the Bonsucro Calculator and the Certification system process..
In general, there were no sudden changes in the purpose and objectives of the Production Standard, as these are in line with Bonsucro's intention. v5.1 presents the purpose of collectively accelerating the production and sustainable uses of sugarcane, based on the principles of credibility, collaboration, inclusiveness and adaptability. as targets, improve the environmental impact of sugarcane, strengthen human rights and decent work in the cultivation and processing of this and create value throughout the supply chain.
The Bonsucro Production Standard is structured in 5 Principles, 20 criteria and 72 indicators. There have been certain changes to the principles of the previous version (v4.2) for the current, leading to changes in criteria and indicators, consequently.
Main changes in the Principle 1
At the beginning 1, the title change was explicit. Na v 4.2 consisted of “Fulfilling the law”, having as a criterion 1.1 compliance with applicable laws and “complied with national laws” as the main indicator. Nonetheless, in current version, the beginning 1 is “Assessing and managing environmental risks, social and human rights”, having as a first criterion the leadership demonstrated by the elaboration and application of sustainability policies, and “the operator develops and implements sustainability policies” as the main indicator.
Despite the major change in the name of the principle and the main indicator, it can be said that the intention remains aligned. On v4.2, there is talk of compliance with waste laws and requirements, pollution and environment protection, work conditions, operational health and safety, social welfare, etc.; on v5.1, the operator is indicated to have policies or work orders in place to respect human rights, rights of indigenous peoples, labor rights, Worker's health, environment, against harassment and against discrimination, between others.
Some criteria from v4.2 resemble indicators from v5.1, but this brings a new approach, despite mentioning legislation. in the previous version, the criterion 1.2 is “Prove title to the land and the legalization of access to water, in accordance with national law and practice”., while in the current version it is the indicator 1.1.3 which reads “Land and water claims that are legitimately contested by other users”. The purpose of that is to demonstrate the right of the operator to the possession and/or use of land and water, and avoid conflicts over land use rights; and the latter is that the operator acts towards the definitive solution of the dispute using recognized judicial and/or extrajudicial mechanisms. Land and water claims apply to the entire supply area (you don't have) or production area (farms), regardless of inclusion in the certification unit.
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