Accelerate positive impacts for sustainable agriculture
The Sustainable Tobacco Program (STP) is an industry initiative that seeks to enable agricultural supply chain due diligence and accelerate positive impacts on social and environmental footprints.
Vision & Mission
The purpose of STP is to enable stakeholders to accelerate positive impacts through sustainable agriculture practices. Through our collaborative work, we aim to facilitate longer-term, evidenced impact on the agricultural supply chain to benefit the environment and the communities that we operate in.
One of STP’s objectives is to continuously strive for the protection and respect of the planet and people in tobacco production supply chains to reduce negative impact on the environment and communities.
By facilitating supply chain due diligence, STP helps members and participants identify risks, prioritize actions, and pursue paths for positive change for sustainable development in tobacco growing communities worldwide.
About STP
Scope
STP offers an approach to sustainability and due diligence, that covers topics identified below. The framework’s stakeholders include 150+ leaf suppliers and over 5.6 million farmers and farm workers in more than 50 countries worldwide.*
Industry Initiative
STP brings its members together in a collaborative effort to develop and utilize innovative supply chain due diligence solutions that can benefit all stakeholders. STP is governed by a steering committee made up of its members. STP is operated by a secretariat run by Peterson Solutions. The committee and its members work closely with the secretariat to continue to review and improve the framework.
Stakeholder Engagement
We believe that by working collaboratively towards common sustainability goals, we can make a meaningful difference and facilitate opportunities for longer-term impact for farmers, communities, and our planet.
Sustainable agriculture is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to continuously evolving to ensure that we remain fit for purpose and equipped to drive positive change for sustainable development.
To achieve our goals, we engage with manufacturers, suppliers, farmers, and experts (local and global). If you’d like to engage and collaborate, please reach out!
* Based on substantiated supplier data for the 2023 crop year.
Tools & Themes
Due Diligence Cycle
A cycle of continuous improvements is built into STP due diligence and tools – identify, prioritize, respond, measure and report. STP includes eight themes and aims to be aligned with internationally recognized frameworks*.
* For example, UN Sustainable Development Goals, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and FAO-OECD Guidelines for Sustainable Agriculture.
Governance
Suppliers are encouraged to implement a management structure that supports commitments and efforts on sustainability and supply chain due diligence.
Livelihoods
Suppliers are encouraged to support farmers to achieve, or improve, a decent standard of living. The theme includes basic needs and living income.
Human & Labor Rights
Suppliers are encouraged to refer to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in their agricultural production. The theme includes child labor, fair treatment, freedom of association, income, working hours & benefits, modern slavery, safe working environment and other human rights impacts.
Climate Change
Suppliers are encouraged to address climate-related risks in their agricultural supply chain – support farmers in adapting to climate impacts, build long-term resilience, and reduce GHG emissions.
Water
Suppliers are encouraged to manage water as a shared resource – respect communities’ rights to water, enhance water use efficiency and avoid adverse impacts on water quality.
Natural Habitats
Suppliers are encouraged to promote the sustainable use of ecosystems and prevent deforestation and land conversion.
Soil Health
Suppliers are encouraged to protect the soil and improve capabilities to give the crop ideal conditions to develop.
Crop
Suppliers are encouraged to optimize Crop Protection Agents (CPA) usage to minimize negative impacts and maximize their own yields and crop quality. Suppliers are also encouraged to reduce health and safety risks related to CPAs and meet legislative and individual manufacturers’ requirements.
Contact
If you’re interested in learning more about STP, please contact us!