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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 sugar cane 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 2026, each ABF Sugar business launched a Human Rights Policy, guided by international standards, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. Each business has nominated a ‘Single Point of Contact’ for human rights to lead and develop its human rights action plan.
The division refers to the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda to guide its operations, which includes paying fair wages and providing safe working conditions.
In response to evolving regulatory requirements, the ABF Sugar businesses have completed their annual assessment of environmental and social impacts in their operations, supply chains and community activities. This assessment, guided by a risk-based approach, identified opportunities for improvement. ABF Sugar continues to work 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 mitigating human and labour rights-related risks. All head office and business unit employees 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 2026, ABF Sugar supported capability training for its top 30 suppliers. This aims to equip suppliers with essential knowledge and tools for implementing human rights due diligence, including health and safety, climate impacts, working conditions, grievance mechanisms and remediation. The training was implemented in collaboration with AIM Progress, Partner Africa and Quizzr.
Both British Sugar and Azucarera have 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. In 2026, both businesses were audited against the Sedex SMETA 7.0 standard to meet customer expectations.
ABF Sugar businesses continue to invest in their relationship with local communities and key stakeholders. In Africa, sugar estates are often located within rural communities where some businesses support access to services including healthcare, education and local infrastructure that benefit employees, their families and, in some cases, surrounding communities.
In 2026, initiatives implemented by ABF Sugar businesses in Africa focused on helping provide access to potable water, offer natural disaster relief, improve healthcare, advance education and develop infrastructure. Businesses in each country in which they operate have developed, or are implementing, plans to address infrastructure maintenance requirements and improve sanitation facilities across schools, supporting safer and more conducive learning environments for learners and teachers.
In South Africa, the Thuthuka Nathi science, technology, engineering and mathematics (‘STEM’) Programme is supporting education in five partner schools. Support is provided through tutoring, teacher development, resources and community partnerships. Top-performing students are eligible for Illovo bursaries for university studies.
In 2026, British Sugar supported over 200 local charities, good causes and community projects across East Anglia and the East Midlands. In addition, many teams and colleagues volunteer at food banks, for local schools and youth groups, at homeless charities and many more.
