Since late 2018 and following a decision from the Board of Directors, Bonsucro has been working to revise its Code of Conduct (last reviewed in 2011) and its Grievance Mechanism (last reviewed in 2014).

We are now holding two six-week public consultations on the draft Bonsucro Code of Conduct, and the draft Grievance Mechanism. You may send your feedback on one or both consultations. Feedback will be received until Wednesday 5th February 2020, 5pm London time.

Bonsucro Code of Conduct

Bonsucro Grievance Mechanism

Thank you in advance for your support and please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat if you have any questions.

Bonsucro Code of Conduct

Step 1: Download the draft documents below.

Step 2: Access the online survey with the consultation questions and follow the on-screen instructions.

You can, alternatively, submit your answers via Word document: download the Consultation Questions in Word, complete and send your completed Word file via e-mail to info@bonsucro.com with the subject line “Public Consultation”

Please note that in order for you to provide feedback you will need to read and review the following associated documents listed in the above table and it is best if you have these documents handy whilst you respond to the consultation’s questions.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat if you have any questions.

Why are changes to the Code of Conduct being made?

Bonsucro’s Code of Conduct is the foundation of Members’ agreement with Bonsucro to be part of the Bonsucro platform. It is a key mechanism by which Bonsucro drives its vision of a sugarcane sector with thriving, sustainable producer communities and resilient, assured supply chains.

The revision presents a unique opportunity to:

• Support responsible sugarcane production, processing and sourcing
• Create lasting value for the people, communities, businesses, economies and eco-systems in all cane-growing origins in line with supporting the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals
• Refresh Members’ commitments and renew interest in Bonsucro
• Increase transparency and clarify expectations on what Bonsucro membership means
• Find the right balance for membership requirements
• Express the spirit of Bonsucro and set values that members and staff follow

The review started with a series of consultations carried out by Mike Read Associates in late 2018 and early 2019, which were finalised by in-person consultations with those present at Bonsucro Global Week in Thailand as well as an online survey to all members. These consultations helped the Secretariat and the Members Council to build a framework and uncover the key topics and ideas for the review.

The Code has been redrafted to articulate more clearly Members’ roles and responsibilities as members of Bonsucro, primarily to support:

• Bonsucro’s risk management and diligence processes, including human rights due diligence, which requires a refresh of Bonsucro’s policies and processes
• Members’ sugarcane processing, production and sourcing activities alignment with Bonsucro’s vision and mission and best practice in this space. To do this, Bonsucro supports convergence with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, also drawing on the OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains. These standards are globally authoritative frameworks for managing social and environmental risks in business activities and supply chains.

As the focus on social and environmental impacts in business activities and supply chains increases, so do the legal, financial and reputational risks for all organisations involved. Bonsucro and its Members must work towards ensuring social and environmental impacts are addressed and be clear about what they are doing to address them (and also what they are not doing or able to do).

Bonsucro Grievance Mechanism

Step 1: Download the draft documents below.

Step 2: Access the online survey with the consultation questions and follow the on-screen instructions.

You can, alternatively, submit your answers via Word document: download the Consultation Questions in Word, complete and send your completed Word file via e-mail to info@bonsucro.com with the subject line “Public Consultation”

Please note that in order for you to provide feedback you will need to read and review the following associated documents listed in the above table and it is best if you have these documents handy whilst you respond to the consultation’s questions.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat if you have any questions.

Why are changes to the Grievance Mechanism being made?

Having an effective Grievance Mechanism is an essential part of proactive compliance, risk management and remediation. It is also essential for Bonsucro to demonstrate the credibility of its scheme to all stakeholders, including ISEAL and the European Commission (EU RED accreditation).The revision presents a unique opportunity to:

• Reinforce Bonsucro’s responsibility to respect human rights
• Incorporate stakeholder and member views in the design of the grievance mechanism
• Increase impartiality and credibility of the process ​
• Outline a clear and more transparent process ​
• Align with internationally recognised frameworks​
• Promote resolution of complaints via mediation

The Bonsucro Secretariat are supported by an independent law firm to advance the work and build a framework aligned with international best practice.

The Grievance Mechanism draft incorporates extensive stakeholder consultation and feedback. It has been designed to align with the UNGP Effectiveness Criteria: ​

• Detailed rules of procedure to ensure predictability and transparency ​
• Designed in consultation with stakeholders to ensure legitimacy and credibility ​
• Includes a range of support mechanisms and detailed guidance to ensure accessibility and equitability ​
• Remediation options retain flexibility to ensure they can be rights-compatible ​
• Includes a regular review process to ensure it is a source of continuous learning ​
• Clarifies interaction with Certification Bodies and the Certification process when applicable

Whilst designed to align with the UNGP Effectiveness criteria, we also recognise that Bonsucro is a small, non-profit organisation with limited funds and resources available and with a diverse membership base with large geographic reach. This inevitably means that some compromises have to be made and in some cases there may be restrictions that prevent certain steps from being taken. We are mindful of this and are taking steps to make sure there is effective alignment with best practice, where practicable.

Respondents to this consultation are actively encouraged to provide examples and practical suggestions as to how a better balance may be struck where it is felt that effective alignment has not been achieved.

The Portuguese and Spanish translations provided are intended to facilitate feedback from stakeholders. However, questions about the contents or interpretations of the documents must always be clarified with reference to their original version in English.