Ingenio San Antonio, a world-class sugar mill operation in Nicaragua that produces sugar, alcoholic beverages and biofuel, won two categories in the 2024 Just Drinks Excellence Awards, for Social and Environmental Sustainability.
Just Drinks recognized Ingenio San Antonio for their commitment to ethical and sustainable production, and to the welfare of its workers and their communities. With La Isla Network (LIN), Ingenio San Antonio has improved labor conditions by developing occupational safety and health standards focused on rest, shade, hydration and sanitation (RSH-s).
Implementation of those standards is aided by data collected on-site and organizational management assessment, to ensure that the standards are working and to identify barriers, opportunities and messaging or operational gaps around OSH implementation and enforcement.
The work has been possible through the Adelante Initiative, a multi-year program funded by the German Investment Corporation, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Stavros Foundation, Bonsucro and La Isla Network.
The Adelante Initiative has continued through the Prevention, Resilience, Efficiency and Protection (PREP) program, which continues to evaluate the effectiveness of the RSH-s protocols.
Through Adelante and PREP, Ingenio San Antonio is now home to the Adelante Center of Excellence, a model system that uses data and evidence collected on-site to protect workers from risks, especially those driven by climate change.
Ilana Weiss, Chief Program Officer at La Isla Network said, “ISA has shown clear vision and dedication in implementing effective heat stress interventions for their workers. They are leaders in their industry and collaborative partners in the advancement of OSH protections in logistically complex settings. LIN really values the work we’ve done together, and the subsequent paradigm shift within the sugar industry. We offer our whole-hearted congratulations on this much deserved award.”
Denis Chavarría, M.D., MPH, is Occupational Health Manager at Ingenio San Antonio. He oversees the program with La Isla Network.
He said, “These prestigious international awards are a testament of the company’s commitment to sustainable practices. This includes the work we’ve done over the years with key partners such as La Isla Network to develop pioneering worker health and safety programs that are truly ground-breaking and with the potential to have a global, cross-industry impact.”
Including the RSH-s program, Ingenio San Antonio provides a company school and hospital for workers and their families. Furthermore, they connect with the community by supporting educational, sporting, infrastructural and cultural programmes.
Additionally, Ingenio San Antonio leads reforestation efforts, uses clean and renewable energy in its operations, and minimizes their environmental footprint through recycling and waste management strategies.
Ingenio San Antonio maintains top sustainability certifications from Bonsucro, Fair Trade USA and ISCC EU, complying with many certification criteria.
Thank you for reading. La Isla Network protects workers in a changing climate. We generate and implement data-driven worker protection and management assessment protocols to improve the resiliency of workforces and businesses to heat stress. For more information please contact in**@la***********.org.
