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Bonsucro strengthens its Chain of Custody Standard

Global sustainable sugarcane platform Bonsucro has made several key changes to its Chain of Custody Standard, designed to increase access to data relating to industry operators’ sustainable practices.

The updates are aimed to help the entire sugarcane supply chain, from feedstock production through to consumption, it says.

“Bonsucro recognises that simply certifying sugarcane as ‘sustainably produced’ is no longer enough,” Rafael Marques Seixas, head of membership at Bonsucro, told Ingredients Network.

Enhancing sustainability information

Today’s buyers, regulators, and consumers increasingly want verified impact data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, deforestation, and other sustainability topics.

The sugarcane sector expects platform providers to provide a comprehensive look at their end-to-end supply chains, to support regulatory compliance and due diligence obligations.

To meet these needs, Bonsucro is evolving its Chain of Custody Standard in three important ways: expanding its traceability and digital capabilities, accepting voluntary GHG emissions data input, and setting out a future roadmap.

Bonsucro has updated its code of conduct to shift from certification-only data to what it refers to as “impact and data-rich traceability”. The Standard will move beyond its current mass-balance approach, which tracks certified volumes, to also cover sustainability metrics such as GHG emissions.

As part of this update, the sugarcane platform has introduced new models and stronger data-sharing mechanisms. These allow traceability and sustainability metrics, including GHG data, to accompany certified and mixed volumes.

For the first time, the capabilities will also enable data sharing for non-certified volumes, providing visibility across the entire supply chain, not just the certified segment.

Bonsucro will also implement a new voluntary GHG emissions transmission module. The updated Bonsucro Standard (v5.2), which came into effect on 1 January, includes a voluntary module that enables the transfer of GHG emissions data along the supply chain.

As a result, certified producers will have a mechanism to share their independently verified GHG data with buyers. They will be able to share this information through a sustainability declaration that goes alongside invoices and shipment documents.

“This is important because it will help companies make impact claims by linking certified product transactions to sustainability metrics collected through the Bonsucro Calculator and verified by independent auditors,” said Seixas.

The platform has also updated its future roadmap to include enhanced traceability and digital systems. Bonsucro is planning a phased development toward a future Standard v6.0.

Adopting a modular, flexible approach, the company bases its approach on the idea that there isn’t one solution that fits all companies. Instead, organisations need solutions that suit their context and needs.

“We also emphasise interoperability, ensuring whatever Bonsucro creates speaks to our members’ systems and reduces admin burden,” said Seixas.

Shaping global sugarcane supply

Bonsucro set out to address a core challenge faced by the sector, in which sugar mills invest significant time collecting certification data but often see limited commercial benefit.

The company behind the global sugarcane platform recognises that producers that can provide robust, verified impact data, especially on GHG emissions, will be better placed to meet buyer expectations.

“This may lead to greater market recognition and value, as buyers increasingly differentiate based on demonstrable impact rather than certification alone,” said Seixas.

Through its changes to the Standard, Bonsucro hopes to give manufacturers access to reliable sustainability data on the sugarcane they purchase and, in turn, help companies make quantifiable environmental claims, such as GHG emissions.

“Better traceability and verified impact data can improve supply chain risk assessment, giving manufacturers more confidence in their sourcing decisions,” said Seixas.

“The changes also align with rising regulatory requirements,” Seixas added.

Prevalent regulations affecting sugarcane producers include the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which requires buyers to identify, manage, and report on environmental and human rights risks in their supply chain.

Furthermore, while sugarcane is not currently included in the scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Bonsucro stated that deforestation remains an important focus for buyers, and many take an aligned approach across all the commodities they work with.