LEAF Marque collaborate with SIZA to announce equivalency agreement

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our ongoing collaboration with SIZA, The Sustainability Initiative of South Africa – the achievement of equivalency between our respective standards.

This achievement follows an in-depth benchmarking process aimed at understanding the synergies and distinctions between SIZA Social, SIZA Environmental and the LEAF Marque Standard.

The aim of this agreement will enable a streamlined certification process. Producers will now have the convenience of undergoing a single SIZA environmental audit, supplemented by a LEAF bolt-on module, conducted by mutually recognized and approved audit firms and auditors. The primary objective of this collaborative effort is to alleviate the certification burdens on producers, eliminate redundancy, and foster greater alignment between standards.

We are confident that this equivalency agreement will not only enhance the sustainability practices of South African producers but also broaden the sustainability landscape. It marks a significant step towards achieving harmonisation and increased continuity between standards, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future for all.

Retha Louw, CEO of SIZA stated:

"SIZA is thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with the LEAF Marque team. Over the past year, our collaboration has been truly wonderful, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the LEAF team for their dedication and hard work. Our shared commitment to offering South African producers a streamlined and cost-effective solution for third-party audits remains the main goal."

Clare Mike, LEAF Director, Technical and Business Development commented:

“This achievement is a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to promote sustainable farming practices worldwide. By aligning and collaborating with SIZA Environmental, we are taking a crucial step towards a more sustainable and interconnected global agricultural industry that puts farmers at the forefront of our certification schemes.”

A more detailed and operational document containing information on the audit process will be shared to South African suppliers once the SIZA and LEAF Marque team have finalised the relevant documentation.

About SIZA:

siTHTThe Sustainability Initiative of South Africa, provides a platform for agricultural stakeholders to ensure ethical and environmentally sustainable trade. This platform monitors care for the environment and compliance with labour legislation. To date the SIZA membership reaches more than 4000 users which includes primary, secondary and tertiary members of the programme. Their aim is to encourage continuous improvement in practices over time in excess of the minimum legal requirements and engage directly with their stakeholders throughout the value chain in order to identify needs and issues. Interventions and support tools are created by measuring member compliance over time.

For more information on SIZA, please visit: www.siza.co.za