Illovo Sugar South Africa - Sustainability

Sweetening Lives, Enabling Thriving Communities




Sugar production is a significant contributor to the national economy and sugarcane cultivation and production act as a powerful economic driver in rural areas. The industry creates a vast number of jobs beyond just farming and milling. Illovo Sugar recognizes this vital role and actively participates in national priority initiatives. Our operations directly and indirectly create jobs through the sugarcane value chain, benefiting thousands of people.


We believe that communities close to our operations must derive value from our presence in their neighborhoods.




 

Small-Scale Grower Development

Illovo Sugar South Africa continues to invest in dedicated smallholder grower programmes that facilitate the capacity development of small-scale farmers through mentorship and education. This is a critical pillar of our land redistribution and transformation efforts.

We create sustainable employment for black growers and their families, and provide training opportunities for rural households.

We purchase 93% of our sugarcane from independent grower farmers in South Africa, with more than 90% of our sugarcane feedstock sourced from diverse farming enterprises in deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal, the majority of which are Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs).

Support Programmes Available to Growers




We partner with local sugarcane growers through our well-established development programmes. These programmes empower growers to participate more fully in the mainstream economy by equipping them with the tools to increase cane yields and quality. By supporting our growers, we ensure a sustainable supply of high-quality sugarcane for our mills, while also boosting the incomes of our community partners.




 
 
 

Enterprise and Supplier Development

Our Thuthuka Nathi Enterprise Development Programme enables entrepreneurs from communities surrounding our mills to embark on a business development training programme and be guided through managing business finances, positioning their business for growth, and other strategic objectives.

We are equally committed to the transformation of our supply chain and we work with SMMEs to develop them and create procurement opportunities for them.

Environmental Sustainability

Ongoing investments enable continuous reduction of our environmental impact through reduced coal consumption, responsible emissions and wastewater management, sustainable packaging exploration, and our Eston Mill's electricity generation and export capabilities.

Illovo Sugar South Africa champions sustainable water usage, recycling and reusing resources, and providing safe drinking water. We also empower our communities with the knowledge and resources to manage water sustainably.

Community Support

Illovo Sugar South Africa actively supports communities during disasters through volunteering and relief efforts. We've invested in four healthcare facilities providing critical treatments and services.

Recognizing the challenge of clean water access, we've donated water tanks to 11 schools and clinics. These initiatives, addressing essential needs like water, health, and education, are central to our 'Thriving Community' initiative.

Education and Literacy

Illovo Sugar South Africa invests in community education through the 'adoption' of primary and high schools in the regions in which we operate.

Illovo Sugar South Africa provides bursaries for studies including Engineering, Finance, Computer Science and Agriculture, Each year, recipients are selected from a candidate pool of matriculants including employees' children, STEM Project participants, and other applicants from the general public.

Electricity Co-Generation