Benchmarking
About
In the sugarcane sector, many sustainability frameworks guide and measure sustainability. Benchmarking Bonsucro Standards against these frameworks promotes compatibility and adds value across the supply chain. This helps stakeholders understand and assess different tools.
As frameworks overlap in sectors, supply chains or regions, collaboration is crucial. Benchmarking aligns requirements, recognises other schemes, and reduces duplication, fostering better cooperation.
Benchmarking Protocol
One of our strategic aims is to create value across the supply chain. We continually seek opportunities to align and partner with other relevant sustainability standards and initiatives within sugarcane and beyond. The Bonsucro Benchmarking Protocol sets out how we create these partnerships.
Bonsucro’s Benchmarking Protocol allows for different purposes for benchmarking, using a stepwise approach to ensure its expedience while delivering useful results to different users. Uses can range from a quick internal benchmarking exercise to identify high-level overlap and gaps for strategic conversations with potential partners (equivalency assessment for alignment) to an external in-depth independent assessment of another scheme (equivalency assessment for recognition). It includes an Excel-based tool (the Bonsucro Benchmarking Assessment Tool) to document the process and ensure transparency.
Benchmarking conducted against the Bonsucro scheme using the Bonsucro Benchmarking Protocol and the Bonsucro Benchmarking Assessment Tool means that Bonsucro is the benchmark – the other scheme is evaluated against the criteria determined by Bonsucro.
Equivalency assessment for alignment is informative only. Only schemes that have been benchmarked for recognition can be considered for a reduced audit.
Schemes benchmarked against the Bonsucro Standards
Alignment:
RaÃzen Elos
The RaÃzen Elos programme aims to promote the sustainable development of RaÃzen‘s sugarcane suppliers, engaging them in the progressive adoption of measures that encourage and support the promotion of economic sustainability, respect for the environment and human and labour rights. The Elos requirements were benchmarked against the Bonsucro Production Standard v5.2 for alignment, and the report with the benchmark results can be accessed here.
Recognition:
There are currently no schemes benchmarked against Bonsucro for recognition.
Schemes that have benchmarked Bonsucro
SAI-FSA benchmark
The Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) 3.0 is a universal farm-level standard for agricultural crops, by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform). The Bonsucro Production Standard v5.2 was benchmarked against the FSA 3.0 and achieved Gold Level equivalency.
Nordic Alcohol Retail Monopolies benchmark
Bonsucro has been assessed against the sustainability benchmark requirements of the Nordic Alcohol Retail Monopolies, allowing for more systematic and informed assessments of certified products.
The purpose of the comparative study is to systematically leverage the valuable work conducted within the cultivation and production chain to ensure compliance with the principles of their code of conduct, while minimising environmental impact. The insights gathered can be applied in several contexts, including:
- Assessing and managing risks within the supply chains,
- Informing the formulation of tenders, and
- Enhancing customer communication both in-store and online.
ITC Standards Map
Bonsucro is part of the standards benchmark service offered by the International Trade Centre (ITC). The Standards Map provides free, accessible, comprehensive, verified and transparent information on over 300 standards for environmental protection, worker and labour rights, economic development, quality and food safety, as well as business ethics, and can be accessed here.
FAQ
- + Why does Bonsucro have a benchmarking programme?
Bonsucro aims to ensure that responsible sugarcane production creates lasting value for the people, communities, businesses, economies and ecosystems in all cane-growing origins. Through benchmarking, Bonsucro provides global recognition and visibility to the Benchmarked Schemes and encourage an inclusive approach to sustainable improvement by identifying commonalities between schemes and the Bonsucro Production Standard, the most robust global reference framework in the sugarcane industry.
- + What are the benefits of having your scheme benchmarked by Bonsucro?
If benchmarked for alignment, the scheme can understand the gaps between its programme and the Bonsucro Certification. This enables the scheme to develop its certification programme further to increase alignment with the Bonsucro Standards.
If benchmarked for recognition, the audit results from another scheme can be used to demonstrate evidence of compliance with Bonsucro indicators within the scope of the recognition, reducing the audit burden for certified operators.
- + Can any organisation have its scheme, standard or tool benchmarked by Bonsucro?
Any organisation with a tool, scheme or standard designed to improve and validate the performance of sugarcane farms and/or mills can apply to undertake a Bonsucro benchmark. To apply to have your scheme benchmarked with Bonsucro, contact the Bonsucro team here.
- + How long is the status of Benchmarked Scheme valid for?
The benchmarking result and equivalency status are valid for three years. If there are any major/substantial changes to the benchmarked scheme within this time period, the scheme owner agrees to notify Bonsucro within three months of the change(s) being made. Bonsucro will assess if a full re-benchmark is required. Note: If the scheme owner does not notify Bonsucro of major/substantial changes, the scheme will lose its recognition status. After three years, the scheme will be re-assessed. A full re-benchmarking may be required if either the Bonsucro Production standard or the benchmarked schemes are revised or updated.
Want to know more?
Find out how your organisation can get involved with Bonsucro Benchmarking.
