Hershey targets 100% responsibly sourced sugar
Confectionery giant The Hershey Company is targeting 100% responsibly sourced sugar by 2020 as it works to drive sustainability throughout its supply chain.
The company says its new Sugar Sourcing Policy establishes rigorous standards to ensure sugar has been responsibly grown and harvested.
For US sourced sugar, all suppliers will be required to complete independent social audits of their refineries and other facilities to the Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) standard by 2020. Any non-compliances will need to be addressed and corrective actions for review by Hershey.
The group says it will conduct annual reviews of its sugar suppliers’ sustainability programmes to assess the environmental impact of sugarcrop farming. The results of the ongoing exercise, it adds, will factor into Hershey’s sourcing decisions.
For international sugar, Hershey will work with suppliers to incorporate third party evaluations within their supply chains against its own Supplier Code of Conduct and industry best practices on sustainability initiatives.
In addition, the company will implement its Learn to Grow sustainable farming programme within its sugar supply chain as part of a partnership with Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute.
Starting in northern Belize, the initiative will train sugar farmers in sustainable agriculture practices to responsibly grow and harvest sugar cane. It is expected to benefit 660 farmers in sugar communities in 2016 and 2017.
Hershey’s Learn to Grow programme was first introduced four years ago to West African cocoa farmers to improve productivity and raise incomes.
“We’ve seen great success from our Learn to Grow programme in the cocoa sector and now have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the sugar industry,” says Eric Boyle, director of responsible sourcing and procurement at the Hershey Company.
“The combination of our new Sustainable Sugar Sourcing Policy and the new farmer training programme will give consumers the assurance that the sugar in our products is responsibly and sustainably grown and harvested.”
