Illovo Sugar Africa - Sustainability

We annually harvest approximately six million tons of cane on 77 000 hectares of land driven by robust optimisation initiatives to sustainably secure cane supply. Water to cultivate the cane is a valuable resource and our water stewardship strategy focuses on ways to reuse water, return it to source, and to minimise its losses, while maximising its efficiency.

Existing cane lands and farming activities are managed according to the SusFarMS environmental management system to ensure sustainable agricultural production with the least number of negative impacts on the environment.

Faced by limited opportunities in remote, rural areas, cane cultivation alongside nearby sugar mills offers private farmers the prospect of creating sustainable livelihoods for themselves and employment for others. We prioritise new cane developments through inclusive growth models and shared value in our supply chain to bring mutual benefit to both business and society.

Partnering with local farmers, transporters, contractors and other small, medium and micro-sized enterprises in the supply chain brings about multiplied socio-economic benefits to the communities in which we operate.

Working with internationally recognised NGO’s such as Landesa, Illovo has made considerable contributions towards the protection of land rights for our industry partners within our geographic footprint, particularly those of small-holder farmers and, in support of human rights in general, have adopted a zero-tolerance towards modern-day slavery practises.

Illovo contributes to educating African consumers about sugar and the role it can play as part of a healthy balanced diet through regionalising AB Sugar’s “Making Sense of Sugar” Campaign. Central to this initiative on the website, information about sugar is provided in a way that is practical and informative. It addresses the myths around sugar, provides information on the different types of sugars and how they are used, as well as giving consumers guidance on how to interpret labels on food and drinks.

In a Group-wide, external socio-economic impact study released in 2018 by Corporate Citizenship, an independent, global management consultancy specialising in social impact assessment, sustainability, and corporate responsibility, it has been found that “the Illovo Sugar Africa Group makes significant socioeconomic contributions within the sphere of its vast Southern African operational footprint.”

Please view Corporate Citizenship’s consolidated Illovo Sugar Africa group report, together with those of our six African businesses. For a quick, high-level view of total impact, please go to our group and country infographics.

As a major employer, purchaser of agricultural raw materials, and producer of sugar and downstream products distributed to largely domestic and regional markets, it was found in the financial year to March 2017, that the group’s total economic impact across its six countries of operation was a massive R23.8 billion (2014: R18.5 billion) comprising R5.0 billion in direct impacts from its own business activities and the balance from the multiplier effects of its business operations within the supply chain and the wider economy. The increase represents a considerable 29% jump in economic contribution over a period of only four years.

ABF – 2021 Responsibility Update

“At ABF, we are committed to creating value responsibly together with all our stakeholders”

GEORGE WESTON

Chief Executive, Associated British Foods