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ABF Sugar recognises that its long-term success relies on upholding the respect and dignity of its workforce, supply chain workers and communities.
A pump station provided by Illovo Sugar Malawi to supply potable water.
The global sugarcane industry is vulnerable to human rights-related risks due to its reliance on labour-intensive and seasonal activities such as weeding, planting, cane cutting and harvesting.
In 2025, the division launched a Human Rights Policy, aligned to international standards, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda.
The division refers to the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda to guide its operations, which includes paying fair wages, providing safe working conditions and promoting dignity and equality.
In 2025, in response to evolving regulatory requirements, the ABF Sugar businesses initiated a review of social impacts in their operations, supply chains and community activities. This assessment, guided by a risk-based approach, identified opportunities for improvement. ABF Sugar is working at a divisional level to support its businesses to address these findings, including the development of a Human Rights Due Diligence Framework. These findings form part of the businesses’ five-year plan priorities.
Training remains a key pillar of ABF Sugar’s approach to mitigate human and labour rights-related risks. All head office and business unit staff complete online training every three years, with additional sessions for new starters, in-person training for relevant teams and training for grower partners. Topics include child labour, forced labour and workplace safety.
In the UK, British Sugar has a Responsible Procurement Policy to guide supplier engagement and manage environmental and social risks. The policy covers key areas such as decarbonisation, sustainable agriculture and respect for human rights.
ABF Sugar’s businesses continue to invest in their relationship with communities and key stakeholders. For instance, its businesses in Africa recognise that their sugar estates are a key part of the communities where they operate, and this is reflected in their activities that aim to support those communities, such as by helping with the provision of clinics, schools or local services to support their workforce, and in some cases their communities and surrounding neighbours.
In 2025, its businesses in Africa continued to invest in several community support projects across their operational areas. These initiatives focused on providing access to potable water, offering natural disaster relief, improving healthcare, advancing education and developing infrastructure.
In April 2025, an assessment of 11 primary schools on two estates in Malawi was conducted to create a roadmap for the long-term sustainable improvement of educational facilities. Throughout 2025, efforts were made to address infrastructure maintenance needs and improving sanitation facilities.
British Sugar is committed to being a good neighbour and community partner. In 2025, the business supported over 200 local charities, good causes and community projects across East Anglia and the East Midlands.
