Established in 2008, Bonsucro is a global non-profit, multi-stakeholder governance group promoting sustainable sugar cane,[1][2] including production, processing and trade around the world.
Both Bonsucro and the standards set by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials have been noted as in practise expanding the EU RED guidelines to include other factors, such as land tenure issues as prescribed by national law.
[3] A 2024 article by The New York Times reported that Bonsucro's audit process certifies companies which support in labor practices including debt bondage, forced hysterectomy, and brutal working conditions.
Through Bonsucro membership and certification, over 32,000 seasonal workers in sugarcane production and processing now have proper contracts and are paid at least the national minimum wage.
EU market access has been labeled as important by Colombian policy-makers, and described as driving the country's national policy aiming for 40% Bonsucro sugarcane.