►  SUGAR BEET & SUSTAINABILITY

       - Horizon 2020 reserach project           AgroCycle

       - The EU Beet Sugar Sustainability           Partnership

       - Integrative Sustainability           analysis of industrial Sugar          production

         - Unbeatable beet!

        - Sugar Beet: a model of

          Sustainability

www.sustainablesugar.eu     contactsustainablesugareu    twitter: @EUSustain_sugar

              ► 2013: THE CREATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP

In October 2013, the European beet growers (CIBE), sugar producers (CEFS) and trade unions of the food and agriculture sector (EFFAT) have formalised a landmark agreement to jointly highlight and report on representative Good Practices of sustainable production of beet sugar in the EU.

European beet sugar production has achieved high levels of sustainability through continuous improvement in all three dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental and social) in recent decades. Their more recent sustainability performance is notably recorded in the joint environmental and social projects set up in the last decade and still ongoing today.

Striving to go further in their joint efforts to consolidate sustainable beet sugar production, European beet growers, sugar producers and trade unions of the food and agriculture sector have agreed to jointly identify and report on representative ‘Good Practices of sustainable production of beet sugar in the EU’.

              ► THE AIM OF THE PARTNERSHIP

In line with the Europe 2020 strategy for a ‘smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive growth’ for the EU, the partnership agreement aims to highlight and facilitate further the dissemination good agricultural, industrial, social and environmental practices in the sector, while taking into account the relevant elements of economic sustainability providing stable and reliable beet sugar production in the EU.

Through a common understanding of what constitutes sustainable production of beet sugar in Europe, the partners aim to:

            ► 2014-2015 - THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP

The partners have agreed to create a working platform, including a steering committee and three technical working groups, covering notably agriculture, industrial and social aspects of beet sugar production in Europe. In addition, partners intend to involve external expertise to provide independent advice for this partnership.

The partners are working together, engaging in  a constructive dialogue and exchange with  other  stakeholders,  while  managing  the  overall  process  to  deliver  a  concrete outcome for the sector within the following timeline:

 

    ► SEPTEMBER 2015: LAUNCH OF THE GOOD PRACTICES 

The CIBE-CEFS-EFFAT Partnership is called the EU Beet Sugar Sustainability Partnership since 2015 and has a website www.sustainablesugar.eu.

An important stakeholder roundtable took place in Expo Milan on 9th September 2015.

We have launched our first major project: the Good Practices. We developed the Good Practices to illustrate the sustainability practices in place in beet cultivation, sugar processing and our combined approach to social responsibility and dialogue with stakeholders.

We are encouraging our members, colleagues and collaborators to learn more about how we view our sustainability challenges and responsibilities, and how we are working to address the significant expectations our stakeholders have – for quality products, a sustainable and eco-efficient industry, and for responsible supply chains, to which we contribute every day, around the world.

Alongside the Good Practices, we have developed a range of additional documents and materials you might find helpful.

The following tools are available, to meet the specific needs and interests you may have:

- Overview Brochure: a succinct explanation of our aims and objectives and introduction to the Good

   Practices

- Sustainability Review: an overview of our sector's material impacts and issues with respect to

  sustainability, with a description of our approach to managing them

- Issue Briefs on soil, water, climate change, social dialogue and resource efficiency - circular economy:

  a set of in-depth, issue-specific backgrouders that explore a topic

  of key interest, how  our industry affects it, and what we are doing about it. We currently have

  issue Briefs available on soil and water.

- Good Practices handbook: the full, detailed Good Practices - complete with dozens of illustrative

  case studies and links to relevant European legislation - are available online.

In September 2015, we have convened a workshop of experts, partners and stakeholders to discuss, debate and feed back on the Partnership and the Good Practices.

This event was hosted by DG Agri in the EU pavilion at Expo 2015, in Milan.

EUBSSP publications